Clay Hays

Background

About Clay Hays

My journey to becoming a geospatial data scientist began with a deep appreciation for the natural world cultivated during my upbringing in Vermont. This connection to nature led me to study environmental science at American University, where I discovered my passion for remote sensing and GIS. I am motivated to explore the intersection of nature and the quantified world of science through the bird's eye perspective that maps, and imagery provide. Sharing my enthusiasm led me to the NASA DEVELOP program at Goddard Space Flight Center. I had the opportunity to work with a team of fellow interns to study the movement of marshes in the Chesapeake Bay for non-profit and government partners. At the end of my undergraduate experience, my work mapping tree biodiversity in DC earned recognition through the NASA DC Space Grant Consortium Student Achievement Award. Currently, as a geospatial data scientist at Brockmann Consult in Germany, my work encompasses developing Python-based solutions for data analysis and visualization, as well as implementing machine learning approaches for Earth observation data processing. Working alongside an exceptional team on varied projects ensures I'm always learning something new.