CV

Jerrod Lessel

Geospatial Analyst and Geologist

Guadalupe, CA 

Summary

Highly motivated geospatial analyst and geologist with a strong academic background and over 10 years of experience in remote sensing, geospatial analysis, and data visualization. Proven ability to leverage geospatial technologies to solve complex scientific and agricultural challenges. Skilled in data acquisition, processing, analysis, and communication of results. Highly adaptable and a lifelong learner who thrives in fast-paced environments and readily embraces new technologies to deliver innovative solutions. Currently working in a senior-level geospatial analyst role to contribute expertise and lead geospatial projects within a collaborative team.

Education

• Master of Science in Geology (May 2013, GPA: 4.00) | California State University, Fresno

  • Thesis Title: New thermobarometers for martian igneous rocks

  • Thesis Advisor: Dr. Keith Putirka

• Bachelor of Science in Geology (May 2008, GPA: 3.03) | California State University, Fresno

Experience

CalTrans | Hybrid work in San Luis Obispo | October 2024 - Present

• Research Data Specialist II

  • Assisting in a variety of GIS projects for counties within CalTrans District 5, leveraging tools like ArcGIS Pro, Access, Power BI, FME, and Survey123.

  • Managing and curating the district's GIS data resources to ensure accessibility, accuracy, and efficiency for ongoing and future projects.

Geogrphic Services Inc. (GSI) | Remote work from California | August 2024 - October 2024

• Geospatial Analyst

  • Performed contract work digitizing and refining administrative boundaries for multiple countries using ArcGIS Pro. 

  • Delivered high-quality outputs while consistently meeting strict deadlines and ensuring data accuracy.

Gro Intelligence | Manhattan, NY (working remotely from California since 2018) | June 2016 - Present

• Senior Geospatial Analyst / Project Lead (Jan 2021 - May 2024)

  • Led a team of analysts in developing and implementing geospatial workflows for crop classification and disaster (flood, fire, drought) monitoring.

  • Developed and implemented classification models using Google Earth Engine to identify various crop types across a variety of countries.

  • Performed quality assurance and control checks on geospatial datasets, ensuring data accuracy and integrity.

  • Collaborated with software developers to translate research models into production-ready workflows.

  • Created pre-processing models for geospatial datasets using ArcGIS ModelBuilder.

• Geospatial Analyst (June 2016 - Dec 2020)

  • Performed research and created basic classified crop masks for various crops over the US.

  • Developed an observed flood indicator for use over agricultural areas.

NASA DEVELOP National Program | Various Locations | Sept. 2013 – June 2016

• NASA DEVELOP Fellow / Center Lead / Communications Manager / Consultant

  • Led teams of researchers and consultants in developing methodologies for drought severity assessment, crop discrimination, and burn scar identification using remote sensing data.

  • Presented research findings at NASA Headquarters, NASA Goddard, and scientific conferences.

  • Authored and co-authored peer-reviewed publications on remote sensing applications in agriculture and disease monitoring.

  • Managed communications and outreach activities for the NASA DEVELOP program.

International Research Institute for Climate and Society | Palisades, NY | April 2014 – Sept. 2015

• Officer of Research Staff Associate / Casual Staff Associate

  • Developed a novel methodology for crop identification in Uruguay using remote sensing techniques.

  • Created a drought monitoring index for Uruguay utilizing ArcGIS.

  • Delivered a workshop on remote sensing applications in agriculture at the Uruguayan Ministry of Agriculture.

California State University, Fresno | Fresno, CA | Jan. 2010 – May 2013

• Teaching Associate

  • Taught introductory fundamentals of physical geology and geologic hazards to ~70 students per semester

  • Developed and taught an introductory planetary geology course.

  • Authored a laboratory manual for introductory geology courses.

AMEC (Now AMEC Foster Wheeler) | Fresno, CA | Apr. 2007 - May 2009

• Staff Geologist / Intern Geologist

  • Conducted a variety of field investigations including soil and water sampling, site inspections, and well installation/development/decommissioning.

  • Analyzed data and prepared reports on environmental monitoring projects.

Skills

• Geospatial Analysis: Geospatial data management, geostatistics, geospatial modeling, spatial thinking

• Remote Sensing: Image processing, classification, and analysis

• Data Science: Data wrangling and cleaning, data visualization, data modeling

• Scientific Communication: Writing, research, presentations, and scientific publications

• Project Management: Team leadership, workflow development, and quality control

• Geoscience Skills: Soil and water sampling, mapping, drill crew supervision, budget proposals, project summaries

Software Proficiency

• GIS & Remote Sensing: ArcGIS Suite, Google Earth Engine, QGIS, ENVI

• Office Productivity: Microsoft Office Suite, Google Docs/Sheets/Slides, Apple Pages/Numbers/Keynote, Atlassian Jira/Confluence/Bitbucket 

• Scripting Languages and programs: Python, JavaScript, VS Code, Jupyter Notebook, MySQL, Github

• Content Creation: DaVinci Resolve, Blender (limited), Inkscape, GIMP, Audacity

Awards

• Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences Outstanding Graduate Student (May 2013)

• State University Grant (March 2011)

• Faculty Sponsored Student Research Award (August 2010)

• Fredrick Dale Trauger Scholarship for Outstanding Achievement (May 2010)

• Estwing Hammer Award for Outstanding Achievement (May 2008)

Group Affiliations

• Member, American Association for the Advancement of Science

• Member, American Geophysical Union

Publications

M. Carvajal-Yepes, K. Cardwell, A. Nelson, K. A. Garrett, B. Giovani, D. G. O. Saunders, S. Kamoun, J. P. Legg, V. Verdier, J. Lessel, R. A. Neher, R. Day, P. Pardey, M. L. Gullino, A. R. Records, B. Bextine, J. E. Leach, S. Staiger and J. Tohme, 2019, A global surveillance system for crop diseases, Science, 364 (6447), 1237-1239. DOI: 10.1126/science.aaw1572

**Cai, Y., Zhao, Y., Lessel, J., & Semret, N., 2018, Crop yield predictions - high resolution statistical model for intra-season forecasts applied to wheat in India. New York, NY: Gro Intelligence, Inc.

**Cai, Y., Moore, A., Elhaddad, A., Lessel, J., Townsend, C., Solak, H., & Semret, N., 2017, Crop yield predictions - high resolution statistical model for intra-season forecasts applied to corn in the US. New York, NY: Gro Intelligence, Inc.

Ceccato, P., Connor, S., Dinku, T., Kruczkiewicz, A., Lessel, J., Sweeney, A., Thomson, M.C., 2017, Integrating remotely-sensed climate and environmental information into public Health. Book Chapter: Integrating Scale in Remote Sensing and GIS. Edited by Dale A. Quattrochi, Elizabeth Wentz, Nina Siu-Ngan Lam, Charles W. Emerson. 402 Pages. ISBN 9781482218268.

Crosson, W., Akanda, A., Ceccato, P., Estes, S. M., Haynes, J. A., Saah, D., Buchholz T., Chang Y., Connor S., Dinku T., Freed T., Gunn J., Kruczkiewicz A., Lessel J., Moghaddas J., Moody T., Roller G., Schmidt D., Springsteen B., Sweeney A., & Thomson M., 2016, Use of Remotely Sensed Climate and Environmental Information for Air Quality and Public Health Applications. In Earth Science Satellite Applications (pp. 173-205). Springer, Cham.

Lessel, J., and Ceccato, P., 2016, Creating a basic customizable framework for crop identification at high spatial resolution using Landsat imagery. Remote Sensing Letters, Vol. 37, 6097-6107

Lessel, J., Sweeney, A., and Ceccato, P., 2016, An agricultural drought severity index using quasi-climatological anomalies of remotely sensed data. International Journal of Remote Sensing, Vol. 37, Iss. 4, p. 913-925

Lessel, J. and Putirka, K.D., 2015, New thermobarometers for martian igneous rocks and some implications for secular cooling on Mars. American Mineralogist, Vol. 100, p. 2163-2171

**Technical reports

Conference proceedings and abstracts

Lessel, J. and Ceccato, P., 2014, Agriculture in Uruguay: New methods for drought monitoring and crop identification using remotely sensed data, Abstract B33C-0200 presented at 2014 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA, 14-19 Dec. 

Ceccato, P.; McDonald, K.C.; Podest, E.; De La Torre Juarez, M.; Kruczkiewicz, A.; Lessel, J.; Jensen, K.; Thomson, M.C., 2014, Climate and Population Health Vulnerabilities to Vector-Borne Diseases: Increasing Resilience Under Climate Change Conditions in Africa. Oral presentation given at 2014 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA, 14-19 Dec.

Kruczkiewicz, A.; Sweeney, A.; Reid, C.; Seaman, J.; Abubakar, A.; Ritmeijer, K.; Jensen, K.; Schroeder, R.; McDonald, K.C.; Lessel, J.; Thomson, M.C.; Elnaiem, D.; Ceccato, P., 2014, Utilizing Remote Sensing to Explore Hydrological and Climatic Factors of Visceral Leishmaniasis in South Sudan. Poster presented at 2014 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA, 14-19 Dec.

Lessel, J. and Putirka, K.D., 2012, New Thermobarometers for Martian Igneous Rocks, Abstract P13A-1911 presented at 2012 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA, 3-7 Dec.

Muniz, J. F., Pluhar, C. J., Masutsubo, N., Holcomb, R. E., Nick, W., Lessel, J., Jackson, J. L., Jackson, B. A., 2010, Paleomagnetic analysis of the Auberry Formation, California, to determine the source and age, Abstract GP33C-0968 presented at 2010 AGU Fall Meeting, 2010, San Francisco, CA, 13-17 Dec.