Caltech Alumnus Joins President Biden’s U.S. Digital Corps

In 2021, the White House launched the U.S. Digital Corps (USDC), a new program to give early-career scientists and technology experts with an interest in public service the opportunity to make a difference at the national level. The USDC has now announced its inaugural class of nearly 40 fellows, which includes data scientist and Caltech alumnus Jonathan Hart (PhD ’06).

Hart and the other fellows will serve two-year terms with the Digital Corps. The group will be spread among 13 federal agencies with the goal of shaping a more equitable, effective, and secure digital government. The fellowship offers benefits such as a dedicated learning and development curriculum, a cohort-based community, and the opportunity for careers in federal service when fellows finish the program.

"The Biden administration is committed to making it easier for talented technologists across America to serve the public," said Robin Carnahan, the administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), who officially swore the fellows into federal service. "From a pool of over 1,000 applicants, we're thrilled to welcome such a high-caliber cohort to help government deliver better for millions of Americans."

Hart, a former biochemist, seeks to understand the deluge of data coming from next-generation genetic sequencing and proteomics experiments. He has supported researchers’ genomics experiments to yield insights into oncology research and has developed hardware and software to sort the mountain of publicly available cancer data sets more efficiently as part of the hunt for new regulatory genes. He will spend his Digital Corps fellowship as a data scientist at the State Department using big data to help implement the department’s Enterprise Data Strategy and data-informed diplomacy.

The inaugural U.S. Digital Corps class of fellows. Courtesy USDC.

“I was looking for a new challenge and sought a chance to apply the data science skills I developed during my postdoctoral experience in a new setting,” Hart says. “For me, the role had to have a positive impact on society. I came across the U.S. Digital Corps during my search. I was immediately interested in the vision of USDC as an analog of the Peace Corps for technology talent that provides a way for people to enter a technology career while benefiting the public. 

“I am now working at the Department of State’s Center for Analytics. Here, I am applying my data science skills to help further our nation’s diplomatic goals and have come to appreciate the interdisciplinary nature of technology work within the federal government. To be truly successful, it isn’t enough to be great in data science and software engineering. You must develop skills in a variety of fields, including design and product management, as well as government-specific skills such as procurement and policy. By the end of my fellowship, I hope to advance data-driven diplomacy while becoming a well-rounded civic technologist.”