Elke Windschitl

Background

I am a science-minded, environmentally-driven, data enthusiast with a passion for pushing the boundaries of technology to address pressing environmental challenges.

Historically, many environmental monitoring techniques were born out of existing technology from the military or big-tech world. While these tools are great, many environmental scientists are forced to work within the bounds of these pre-existing technologies, limiting their capabilities. I imagine a world in which technology is created intentionally for environmental monitoring, research, and conservation.

With this vision in mind, I recently earned a Master of Environmental Data Science degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara’s Bren School of Environmental Science & Management. This degree supplements my Bachelor of Science in Biology degree from Iowa State University of Science and Technology’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Through these degrees I have acquired significant knowledge of environmental systems and a strong foundation in scientific programming, data analysis, GIS, machine learning, and data visualization.

I am a natural-born puzzler, problem-solver, and troubleshooter with inherent curiosity and a knack for asking the right questions. My previous work has entertained questions such as “How can we use acoustic technology to monitor quail in Iowa in place of resource-intensive point count surveys?”, “How can we leverage emerging animal behavior tracking software to make science-based care changes for animals under human care?”, “How can we combine disparate data sources to model habitat suitability for kelp and identify areas most promising for aquaculture or restoration efforts?”.

Whether the goal is to track wildlife on protected lands, predict future crop yields, or regulate carbon emissions, I aspire to put my skills and qualities to use at an organization that shares a vision similar to my own. I am excited to ask questions such as “What insights can we derive from patterns in our data?”, “How can we effectively visualize and communicate data to important decision-makers?”, “How can we scale up our product or methodologies?”, “How can we automate a workflow for reproducibility and save valuable time?”

As a lifelong learner, I am excited to grow into a career that will put me at the forefront of conservation technology. I am driven to build a career as a data scientist dedicated to finding innovative environmental solutions that contribute to a sustainable future for all.

Elke presenting her master's capstone project in front of a screen discussing kelp

My Hobbies

What do I do outside of the office and classroom? I love walking, biking, swimming, and generally spending time outdoors. You can frequently catch me reading a book, and it’s most likely a mystery/thriller novel (find me on Goodreads!) I spend a lot of time in the kitchen cooking and baking – I picked up these two hobbies during the COVID-19 shut down. Last, I dabble in digital illustration, graphic design, painting, and photography. I have been selling prints and stickers since 2017. Nature and the environment is a theme in much of my artwork. Read more about how I integrate art with science here.

The novel 'The Overstory' held up in front of large trees.

A cluster of Monarch butterflies.

The nose of a paddleboard on a lake in fall.

Elke holding up a large colorful painting of mountains.

A man biking through an old railroad bridge in rural Iowa.

Elke crossing a stream with trees and mountains in the background.

Where I’ve Lived

I grew up in the state of Iowa, but I’ve moved around a lot in my adult life! I participated in multiple National Student Exchange programs, and I moved around for internships and fellowships. Check out all the places I’ve lived since I started college in 2016 – size indicates relatively how long I lived there:

Map made with Leaflet and city data from simplemaps.

What’s Next for Me?

I am excited to start my career as an environmental data scientist! Broadly, I hope to find a role where I can blend my quantitative and creative talents to contribute to an organization or research group focused on natural resource management, sustainable food systems, or biodiversity. I am ideally looking for jobs in Santa Barbara, or remote opportunities.

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