Conway to advise on data science in the classroom as Technologist-in-Residence

The Wood Center is excited to announce Drew Conway of Two Sigma as our Technologist-in-Residence (TIR). In his new role, Conway will advise the Wood Center on its strategic technology direction and provide industry insights on how to incorporate data science and AI into our real estate classrooms.

Conway is Head of Data Science for Two Sigma’s private investment businesses, where he leads data strategy across private investment strategies, including Two Sigma Real Estate. He brings deep expertise in applying AI and data science to investment decision-making and strategy.

Prior to joining Two Sigma, Conway founded Alluvium, a data analytics startup acquired by Augury in 2019. He has advised multiple successful tech startups and served as a senior advisor to the Mayor’s Office of Data Analytics in New York City. He began his career as a computational social scientist supporting U.S. counter-terrorism efforts. He is also the co-founder of DataKind, a global nonprofit of pro bono data scientists, and the author of Machine Learning for Hackers.

“The UNC Wood Center’s relationship with Drew and Two Sigma has been two years in the making,” said Jeff Tucker, executive director of the Wood Center. “Technology has and will continue to revolutionize the real estate industry, and Drew is working at the center of this revolution. His real-world insights regarding the nexus of data science and real estate have been incredibly beneficial to our students. We could not be more excited to have him join us.”

Last year, Conway led a three-part guest lecture series in the MBA development class and engaged undergraduate students as a guest speaker for the Undergraduate Real Estate Club. With the lecture series expected to continue this year, Conway’s new role opens the door to even greater impact — both in the classroom and through co-curricular programming.

Conway’s new role as Technologist-in-Residence grew out of his connection with Chris Keber, who is a Partner at Two Sigma Real Estate and longtime Wood Center Advisory Board member. Keber has played a key role in cultivating this relationship from its inception.

As we continue to introduce new data science and technology tools into our real estate curriculum, we’re excited to welcome Conway to the UNC Kenan-Flagler Real Estate community. We believe his experience and fresh perspective will help enrich our program and offer valuable learning opportunities for our students that will set them apart post-graduation.