Colombia Ex-Combatant Project
A case study in data wrangling and automation

Dr. Olver Kaplan, associate professor of International Studies at University of Denver's Korbel School, is on a mission to illuminate the root causes of human rights issues around the globe. He worries that efforts to reintegrate ex-combatants, those who have been part of armed rebellion against the government, are falling short. Access to legal employment is a key factor in determining whether these individuals will effectively reintegrate in society or turn back to violent forms of protest. In an effort to improve the reintegration process in Colombia, Dr. Kaplan organized a study on hiring bias against ex-combatants. Though quantifying bias can prove to be difficult, Dr. Kaplan believes we can shed tremendous light on the extent of the issue, given that we can find the right data. That is where I came in.