ERIC SOLANO, PH.D.
(919) 491-6481 - ericssolano@gmail.com
SUMMARY
Analytical and resourceful data scientist with more than 15 years of experience working with data and applying
extensive training in predictive analytics, mathematical modeling, statistical inference, operations research and
engineering and experience with multiple information technology tools to work in a variety of projects across
multiple industries. Ample experience in applying data methodologies to extract knowledge from operational
data to obtain information for the enterprise business development. Experience with data science
methodologies to identify and understand business problems, set strategies to optimize or improve business
processes, and apply data science analytical cycles to generate actionable insights.
DEMONSTRATED DATA SCIENCE ABILITIES
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Strong mathematical background, analytical and problem solving skills.
Experience in the implementation of complex machine learning algorithms and data mining systems.
Extensive knowledge of Operations Research techniques to analyze complex decision and solution spaces
in multi-objective problems to find optimal and near optimal solutions.
Extensive knowledge of Statistical Inference to leverage synergy between statistics and data mining and
transform data mining into knowledge discovery.
Use of machine learning, statistical analysis, simulation and optimization to create predictive models that
extend the benefits of descriptive analyses and statistics.
Extensive knowledge of Systems Dynamics to explain the characteristics and inter-dependencies of the
different components in a business process and to analyze business dynamics.
Experience with a variety of dashboards and visualization technologies to summarize data analyses
through simple but powerful visual tools.
SOFTWARE AND ANALYTICAL EXPERTISE
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Machine Learning: Supervised and Unsupervised Learning. Regression and Classification Algorithms.
Feature Selection and Engineering. Dimensionality Reduction. Model selection and tuning parameters.
Mathematical optimization techniques: linear, integer, and dynamic programming; genetic algorithms; multiobjective programming and modeling to generate alternatives. Optimization tools: CPLEX, COIN LP.
Predictive Modeling and Analytics Tools: Repast, AnyLogic, eclipse, Systems Dynamics, Discrete Event
Modeling, Agent-Based Modeling.
Statistical techniques and tools: MATLAB, SAS, R, survival analysis, time series analysis, network theory.
Business Intelligence tools: ORACLE, spreadsheets, Tableau, R.
Database systems/tools: Relational database management systems: Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL
Server, MS Access, Crystal Reports.
Operating systems: Windows XP/7, UNIX, LINUX (Fedora, Red Hat, Debian Ubuntu).
Programming languages: Object-oriented programming; Java Platform, Visual Basic.NET; Non-object
oriented languages: Visual Basic 6.0, VBA, PL/SQL.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS): ESRI Software, Oracle Spatial.
Web application development tools: J2EE, Servlets/JSP, Struts, Spring, HTML/XML, JavaScript.
High-performance computing tools: MATLAB Distributed Computing Toolbox, MATLAB Simulink, Moab
Cluster Management System, Agent-Based Modeling.
Data Visualization: tableau, shiny, R, D3.js
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2015 – present
Pactera Technology Ltd., Redmond, WA
Senior Data Scientist
 Price Optimization for Retail Analytics
Eric Solano
ericssolano@gmail.com
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Impact: Optimized profit and revenue margins for retail business owners with methodological
framework to make informed decisions on product price selection and product assortment.
o Tools: regression and classification algorithms, mathematical optimization, R, linear programming.
Software Engineering Defect Prediction
o Impact: Reduced software testing costs for software producers and engineers with tools to help
make decisions about software testing resource allocation and optimization.
o Tools: classification algorithms.
Consumer’s Sentiment Analysis of Mobile Phone Brands using Social Media Data
o Impact: Provided phone manufacturers with tools to help make decisions about benchmarks, future
marketing campaigns and optimization of segmentation and targeting.
o Tools: Polarity and sentiment analyses, social media.
RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC
1999 – 2015
Senior Data Scientist
 Waste Management Operations and Business Optimization
o Impact: Reduced waste management and engineering costs for business operations and
municipalities with improved decision making in technology adoption, potential new markets and
regulation compliance.
o Tools: machine learning, optimization, business intelligence, simulation modeling and life cycle
analysis.
 Electric Power Load Forecasting
o Impact: Reduced capital and maintenance costs for electric grid planners with load forecasting tools
to help make decisions on capital investment, network maintenance, etc.
o Tools: machine learning, regression models, simulation modeling etc.
 Lifetime Predictive Modeling of LED Lighting
o Impact: Reduced manufacturing costs for lighting industry with decision support tool to help make
decisions on product choices, physical properties and material selections to optimize lifetime.
o Tools: Regression models, survival analysis, simulation models.
 Cost Effectiveness of Screening for Breast Cancer
o Impact: Improved patient quality of life and reduced healthcare costs with tools to help make
decisions about cancer treatments and interventions.
o Tools: agent based models and micro-simulation, risk analysis, stochastic considerations.
 Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence for Substance Abuse Datasets
o Impact: Increased program effectiveness and public accountability by promoting a focus on results,
service quality, and customer satisfaction.
o Tools: Data warehouse in SQL Server and BI system in IBM Cognos.
 Predictive Models for Chronic and Infectious Diseases
o Impact: Reduced public healthcare costs with tools to predict outcomes from different interventions
related to chronic and infectious diseases.
o Tools: Machine learning, agent based models, model simulation.
 Predictive analytics for air quality modeling
o Impact: Reduced air quality monitoring, control and treatment costs with tools to predict air quality in
a specific geographic area and the effect of controls and interventions.
 Risk Management of Critical Infrastructure
 Predictive models for terrorist and violent activities
EDUCATION
Ph.D., Systems Analysis/Engineering, North Carolina State University
M.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University
B.S., Civil Engineering, University of Costa Rica
Eric Solano
ericssolano@gmail.com
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RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
Bobashev, G., Solano, E., & Hoffer, L. (2014, October). An agent-based model to support measuring drug
choice and switch between drug types in rural populations. Presented at the International Conference on
Advances in System Simulation, Nice, France.
Davis, J. L., Mills, K. C., Lamvik, M. K., Yaga, R. W., Shepherd, S. D., Bittle, J. F., Baldasaro, N. G., Solano,
E., et al. (Invited Speaker). (2014, April). System reliability for LED-based products. Presented at EuroSim
2014, Ghent, Belgium.
Solano, E., Morris, R. J., & Bobashev, G. V. (2013). Coupling models by routing communication through a
database. RTI Press, MR-0026-1309, 1–20.
Bryant, S.P., Solano, E., Cantor, S., Cooley, P.C., & Wagener, D.K. (2011). Sharing research models: Using
software engineering practices for facilitation. Research Triangle Park, NC: RTI Press. RTI Press
Publication No. MR-0022-1103.
Solano, E., Ranjithan, S. R., Barlaz, M. A., & Brill, E. D. (2002). Life-cycle-based solid waste management. I:
Model development. Journal of Environmental Engineering, 128, 981–992.
AWARDS
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Solid State Lighting Research Project by Department of Energy, 2013.
RTI Professional Development Award, 2012-2013.
RTI Annual Award, 2012 and 2011.
Diplomate, Water Resources Engineering from the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers
SCS Engineers Scholarship Award for Solid Waste Management as part of the Grant H. Flint Scholarships
awarded by the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), July 1998
Honor Instructor at the Civil Engineering Department, University of Costa Rica, 1991, San Jose, Costa
Rica, 1991.
Eric Solano
ericssolano@gmail.com
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