Congratulations to our September Alumni of the Month, Daniel Martin!  Daniel is a Survey Statistician at the US Census Bureau.  He graduated from UMD in 2013 with a Bachelors of Science in Geographical Sciences before moving on to obtain a GIS Certificate in the Masters of Professional Studies at UMD.  Read on below for great advice and insight on working at the US Census Bureau.

What drew you GEOG/GIS/ENSP?

The introductory class to Geographic Information Systems initially drew me to major in GEOG. I liked the applicability of GIS as a tool for exploring spatial data.  Overall, I enjoyed taking the Spatial Statistics class in both undergraduate and graduate school. Also, there are many career paths you can take with a GEOG degree.

What internships or independent research did you do as a GEOG/GIS/ENSP major?

In graduate school, I was a pathways intern at the Federal Aviation Administration.

What do you do at your current job?

I primarily work with the Services Annual Report and Economic Census. I analyze the data submitted from businesses and ensure that the data is accurate and delivered on-time.

What recommendations would you make to current GEOG/GIS/ENSP majors for career and academic success while they are still undergraduates?

It is important to have internship experience while you are an undergraduate or graduate student. During the internship you gain practical experience and can network with industry experts and professionals. These contacts are important when you are ready to search for a full-time job. Also, when you are in an interview you can discuss the experiences and skills you learned during the internships.

What recommendations would you make to current GEOG/GIS/ENSP majors for career and academic success after graduation?

Always network and keep learning. The GIS field is constantly changing so it is important to keep up with the new technologies. I would also recommend attending the ESRI Federal GIS conference and see what is new in the GIS field.

What are some of your hobbies/interests?

Reading, traveling, and anything aviation related including working on my flight simulator.

Thanks for the positive advice, Daniel!  We can’t wait to see what your future at the Census (and beyond) has in store for you!  Congratulations!