Intern Stories

Fernando G.

(Fellow with the State of California Council on Science and Technology)

“The breadth and depth of geographic expertise at the Center for Geospatial Science and Technology (CGST) at California State University, Northridge, created an ideal environment for me to grow as a Geographer and prepare for roles in academia, industry, and government. At CGST, I was exposed to real-world applications of geographic information systems (GIS), big data processing, and automation to analyze issues such as water accessibility. I contributed to GIS data workflows, supported web GIS development, and gained hands-on experience managing spatial data projects. Under the mentorship of CGST staff, I not only sharpened my technical skills but, most importantly, under their guidance I built the confidence to pursue advanced scientific work.

Since my time at CGST, I’ve completed a NASA-JPL internship analyzing water stress using thermal remote sensing imagery from ECOSTRESS and plant–microbe interactions using AVIRIS hyperspectral imagery (resulting in my first publication), earned a Ph.D. at Cornell University, and am now preparing to serve the State of California as a fellow with the California Council on Science and Technology. While these achievements reflect the guidance of many mentors and collaborators along the way, none of it would have been possible without the foundational training and support I received at CGST."

Joel O.

(Now employed as Senior Project Manager at CGST)

“CGST helped me develop an appreciation for the importance of excellence and attention to detail in the GIS community. Working on a number of projects at the center allowed me to gain experience and challenge myself away from the lecture room. My time at CGST also gave me the opportunity to develop further GIS skills within a local government industry for the City of Santa Clarita. My experience at CGST represents the foundation of my current career at Southern California Gas Company. I was extremely fortunate to work with amazing mentors that had a significant influence on my long-term professional goals.”