Josh Brekel

Background

About Josh Brekel

Welcome! Read on to learn a little about me, discover why I chose my majors, and see how my work experience has helped me grow as a person. The present: I am currently working as a Data Scientist at the USDA Agricultural Research Service. In that capacity, I develop programs in Python that help my team understand and streamline experiments in limited irrigation agricultural research. By figuring out how to achieve "more crop per drop", maybe we can learn the best ways to handle limited water supplies in the future. Now, for some history about me. When I first started considering possible majors for my undergraduate studies, all I really knew about myself was that I loved to read and learn. Ultimately, I chose to major in Philosophy because it gave me the opportunity to consider the best ways to live, read significant works from history, and ponder everything from major scientific theories to art and religion. Later on, I added Economics as a second major because I saw the value in being a holistic student with an understanding of data and quantitative analysis as well as a broad understanding of liberal arts and writing. My motives have not entirely changed since I started my undergraduate academic career. Thus far in my life, I have found the most satisfying impact comes when I get to teach others about complex ideas or skills. I also continually strive to assist my family and friends with their dreams. These are the core motivations that drive me each day. Moreover, they are the reasons I pursued a Master’s Degree in Philosophy at Colorado State University. In the Philosophy program, I earned the opportunity to continue to learn and get to teach others. Prior to starting my Master's degree, I completed my undergraduate degrees at Colorado State University. I did so in three years while simultaneously organizing study groups and working multiple jobs. I was also an external reviewer for an undergraduate philosophy journal, which gave me fantastic experience with providing constructive feedback on writing. Furthermore, I spent almost a year working as a writer at a marketing company that used rhetorical techniques to assist small businesses. I am a holistic student in both my academic and personal life — I pursue varied interests including statistics, science, and American history.