Why SEAS?
As an undergraduate student, Josh Habib (MS ’23) started exploring and using geographic information systems (GIS) and other spatial analysis tools for various research projects. It was during that time that he discovered that this was the work he wanted to pursue as his career path. When he started thinking about graduate school, his professors suggested the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) as an option, and when Habib looked into SEAS and learned about the faculty he’d be able to work with if he specialized in Geospatial Data Sciences, he knew he’d found the right fit. “I was excited for the opportunity to work with top practitioners and researchers in this field,” says Habib. “Additionally, I was drawn to the idea of a master’s project as that was something I had never heard of before. I saw the master’s project as not only a way for me to expand my technical skills but also to have the opportunity to grow professionally and collaborate across disciplines.” 

Habib’s master’s project was focused on modeling the role of a particular cyanobacteria’s (Microcystis) resuspension in harmful algal blooms in western Lake Erie. His role in the project included calculating wave-induced bottom stress from various variables and then plotting these values spatially to create monthly average composite maps and animations of averages. 

What’s next?
Habib is looking to build a career where he can utilize his geospatial analysis and data science skills to inform decision-making related to the environment or natural hazards. 

Reflecting on the experience of attending SEAS
Habib says that he has enjoyed all his classes with SEAS faculty, calling them “amazing.” In particular, he enjoyed working with Silvia Cordero-Sancho in a course focused on R and introductions to other software such as GeoDa. He says he was also grateful to be able to work with Kathleen Bergen in GIS and remote sensing classes, to have her as a faculty advisor, and to be able to work for her as a graduate student instructor (GSI). “Being able to learn from and work with someone so knowledgeable has been amazing,” says Habib. 

Studying at SEAS reaffirmed for Habib that a career in GIS, statistics and coding is what he would like to pursue and that he feels ready to do that after graduation. “I am proud to say that not only do I feel much more well-versed in my analysis skills, but I also think I am now a more well-rounded professional who is ready to use data science to solve major problems facing us today,” says Habib. “I am looking forward to seeing how my career in geospatial data sciences unfolds, however, I am much more excited to see what my peers accomplish. As a GSI at SEAS, I met some really talented and intelligent students and I look forward to seeing how their master’s projects come along but also where they end up in their careers!”