Collin Schwantes


Tech savvy scientist with GIS, R, and Web Development experience

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Data Analysis, Automation, & Visualization


With seven years of experience working on multi-million dollar reseach projects, I understand how to leverage data into products and productivity.

Skills


Statistial Analysis

Generalized Linear Models, Spatially Explicit Regression

GIS

Map Production, Geospatial Databases, and Data Integration

Web Development

Dynamic and interative web applications made with Rshiny

Bright Ideas

Using research to frame problems, and data to reveal patterns

Resumé


Collin J. Schwantes

Summary

Technically savvy scientist with a record of fluidly working on multiple large projects. Understands how to turn data into insight and productivity.

Research Communication Programming
Biological Systems Modeling Data Visualization R
Data Integration. Map production SQL
Data quality control Web Applications GIT
Knowledge management tools Spanish - fluent Docker

Professional Experience

Data Librarian - EcoHealth Alliance - New York, New York
2021-Present

  • Provide strategic and technical guidance on data management and workflows at the project and organizational level.
  • Develop software to automate and standardize data workflows.
  • Create and maintain resources that capture and disseminate institutional knowledge.

Data Scientist - Accenture Federal Services - Washington, D.C.
2019-2021

  • Data Science Craft lead. Help data scientists within the Discovery Lab thrive by connecting them with resources, building best practices, and creating a supportive research community.
  • Lead COVID-19 modeling efforts. Develop and deploy near real time forecasting models, phase classification algorithms based on CDC guidance, and a network based COVID-19 office simulation. These products provided essential information via cloud based solutions to leadership at three major government agencies and two fortune 500 companies.
  • Data visualization expert who uses human centered design techniques to generate insightful and ergonomic tools for exploring data.
  • Developed an R-python hybrid application to improve search results and usability of contracting documents with completeness and quality issues. The application uses a semantic search based on the BERT algorithm and a graph database to overcome the inconsistencies in the underlying documents.
  • Lead Graph Analytics Community of Interest. Build and nurture expertise in graph analytics with colleagues across Accenture Federal Services.

Biosurveillance Scientist - Accenture Federal Services - Washington D.C
2016-Present

  • Champion reproducible research best practices.
  • Lead geospatial analysis efforts, train team members to use GIS systems, and provide subject matter expertise on geospatial data standards to ensure interoperability of systems developed by the client.
  • Write flexible programs in to parse unstructured or semi-structured text and image based data for use in analyses. This improves reproducibility of analyses, facilitates data sharing, and reduces person hours dedicated to data entry. Produce data visualizations used in in-depth reports, communications materials, and congressional/leadership briefings.

Application Developer - Free Lance - Washington D.C.
2015-2018

  • Developed web-based interactive graphical user interface for vector control optimization models with clients at the University of Maryland using R Shiny.
  • Developed an interactive map of peace projects across Latin America (currently focused on México) for a graduate student at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.
  • Developed python applications for automating image processing tasks for the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Entomology Department. These significantly reduced transcription error rates and the processing time per-specimen.

GIS Specialist and Spatial Analyst - University of Colorado Museum of Natural History - Boulder, Colorado
2015

  • Developed and began implementation of an open research plan for a multi-year citizen science project using open databases, R, and GitHub to transparently study the relationship between urban land-use and bee diversity in the Front Range of Colorado.
  • Created a web application that allows 500+ citizen scientists and interested members of the public to explore bee diversity data.

Research Assistant - University of Colorado Boulder - Boulder, Colorado
2013-2015

  • Collected, integrated, and analyzed biological data, remotely sensed agricultural data, and infrastructure data in R and ArcGIS while managing and mentoring 10 undergraduate research technicians.
  • Presented data at four professional conferences and created figures for USDA reports.
  • Created fully digitized collection of over 20,000 insects.

Research Technician - University of Wisconsin Madison - Madison, Wisconsin
2008-2013

  • Conducted site selection and landcover data extractions in ArcGIS for Department of Energy funded research.
  • Trained graduate students and visiting academics in using ArcGIS.
  • Led field research teams from 2010-2013.
  • Assisted with data entry and the creation of safety compliance materials.

Education

Master of Arts Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
University of Colorado Boulder - 2013-2015

Bachelor of Science Evolutionary Biology, Spanish Linguistics, Zoology
University of Wisconsin Madison - 2006-2011

Professional Certifications

ICAgile Certified Professional
Accenture Agile Institute - 2016

Publications

Baker, Heather, Asher Grady, Collin Schwantes, Emily Iarocci, Rachel Campbell, Gus Calapristi, Scott Dowson, Michelle Hart, Lauren E Charles, and Teresa Quitugua. 2018. “NBIC Biofeeds: Deploying a New, Digital Tool for Open Source Biosurveillance Across Federal Agencies.” Online Journal of Public Health Informatics 10 (1).

Carper, Adrian L, Collin J Schwantes, Stacy B Endriss, Andrew P Norton, M Deane Bowers, and Mary A Jamieson. 2017. “Exploring Variation in Local and Landscape Factors Driving Grassland Bee Communities in Colorado.” In 2017 Esa Annual Meeting (August 6–11). ESA.

Carper, Adrian L, Collin J Schwantes, and Mary A Jamieson. 2019. “A New State Record of the Rare Bee, Cemolobus Ipomoeae (Hymenoptera, Apidae), from Colorado, Usa.” Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 91 (2): 171–75.

Iarocci, Emily, Collin Schwantes, Anne Folley, Chandra Lesniak, Tiana Garrett-Cherry, and Teresa Quitugua. 2018. “NBIC Collaboration at Multiple Jurisdictional Levels During the Zika Epidemic.” Online Journal of Public Health Informatics 10 (1).

Schwantes, Collin J, Adrian L Carper, and M Deane Bowers. 2018. “Solitary Floral Specialists Do Not Respond to Cryptic Flower-Occupying Predators.” Journal of Insect Behavior 31 (6): 642–55.

Talamas, Elijah J, Joseph Thompson, Amy Cutler, Samantha Fitzsimmons Schoenberger, Anthony Cuminale, Trenton Jung, Norman F Johnson, et al. 2017. “An Online Photographic Catalog of Primary Types of Platygastroidea (Hymenoptera) in the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution.” Journal of Hymenoptera Research 56: 187.

Let's Get In Touch!


I am always looking for new and interesting projects. Email me if you think I would be a fit for your team!

262.389.8518

Pollinator Networks


To help inform pollinator plantings in the western Great Plains, I built a pollination network for the region using museum records from GBIF. This network identifies plant species that are essential to network robusticity, and the species that increase diversity by supporting specialist bees.

hive-plot

Do flower-occupying insects mediate foraging behavior in bees?