Brady Woods

1) What major(s), minors, and/or certificates you are working on at UMD?

I am the Geographic Sciences: GIS and Computer Cartography major and the Remote Sensing of Environmental Change minor.

2) What are your interests within your program(s)?

Initially, my main interest within the program was creating cartographic products as it was a unique combination of science and art to create something informative aesthetically pleasing. Eventually I grew to like remote sensing and declared the RSEC minor.

3) What previous jobs, internships, and volunteer experience have you had?

I interned at the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) in the spring of 2014 and am returning there this summer as well, I highly recommend it to anyone interested in GIS or terrorism studies.

4) Where you are from (optional)?

I am from Lusby, Maryland.

Internship:

1) Where you are interning?

I am currently interning at START as mentioned above, this summer will be my second semester interning there.

2) What are your internship responsibilities?

I intern within the GIS department at START, as such I am part of a larger team consisting of interns and supervisors. My primary responsibilities are to assist in any research and cartography required in order to better visualize data collected from the research conducted at START.

3) What project(s) are you working on or contributing to?

I am currently working on a small piece of a much larger map that will display the various smuggling networks and methodologies currently utilized by transnational criminal organizations.

4) How is the internship experience relevant to your studies in Geographical Sciences?

I would not possess half the GIS knowledge that I have today if I had not interned at START. My internship has allowed me to apply what I learn in my classes to projects being worked on at START, strengthening my understanding of GIS concepts. Aside from that, I have also been exposed to much more complicated GIS techniques and processes that I otherwise would not have been exposed to in coursework alone.

5) What are your career goals after your graduate?

Ideally I would like to work in geospatial intelligence upon graduation.

Great Job Brady, Keep up the good work!