My CV
I have skills and experience in many areas but I am especially skilled at data management, database management systems, and programming. I am particularly fond of finding open source alternatives to proprietary solutions for solving problems. I am currently working as a data manager/programmer at the Injury Prevention Research Unit, University of Otago, New Zealand.
Email: brandon dot degraaf at gmail dot com
DOB: 07/07/1980
Objective
Continue to gain experience and skills in data related roles. I have gained various skills and certifications under my own initiative and I will continue to do so.
Skills
Data management:
Clean, join, stack, and transform large datasets.
Transform data with SAS (including macro & SQL), R, Stata, and SPSS.
Probabilistically or deterministically link datasets.
Basic analysis and descriptive statistics.
Write data dictionaries for datasets.
Publication quality flowchards and other diagrams.
Manage complex web based surveys and email lists.
Databases:
Design and implement database schemas
Write and maintain complex SQL queries and stored procedures.
Relational databases: Oracle, MySQL, Postgres, Access, SQL Server, and others.
Analyze and tune databases for common operations.
Normalize and denormalize relational schemas.
Upgrade MySQL and migrate data.
Programming:
Delphi/Pascal, Java, Python, and VB.
Web pages using (X)HTML, CSS, PHP, and JavaScript.
*NIX Bash and DOS Batch shell scripts.
Regex, sed, grep, etc pattern matching and substitution.
GIS:
ArcGIS + python, QGIS, gvSIG, R + maptools & sp.
Work with raster, vector, and attribute data.
Make publication quality maps.
Geocode addresses into geographic coordinates.
Add Statistics NZ attributes such as deprivation and urbanity.
Write custom spatial algorithms.
PC technician:
Design, build, and repair PC systems.
Partition, resize, copy, and securely erase disks.
Install and maintain Linux, Windows, Macintosh, DOS and other OS’s.
Troubleshoot and solve minor networking problems.
Qualifications
Jul 2005 - Feb 2009
BSc Information Science
University of Otago, Dunedin, NZ
2002 - 2003
Diploma in Information and Communication Technology, level 5 & 6
Southern Institute of Technology (SIT), Invercargill, NZ
2001
NMIT Cert. in Applied Computer Technology, level 2 & 3 (+Distinction)
National Certificate in Computing, level 2 & 3.
Nelson Marlborough Institute of technology (NMIT), Nelson, NZ
Mar - Jul 1998
National Certificate in Security, level 2
Impact Training, Nelson, NZ
Certifications
Jun - Jul 2014
Data Management for Clinical Research, Coursera
5 week online course. Scored 100% with distinction (certificate).
Oct - Dec 2013
Social Network Analysis, Coursera
8 week online course. Scored 93.3% with distinction (certificate).
Apr - Jun 2013
Machine Learning, Coursera
10 week online course. Nominally 10, realistically 20 hours/week. Scored 100% (certificate).
Dec 2008
MySQL Associate Certification
Jun 2005
A+ Certification
Equivalent to six months fulltime experience as a PC technician.
Employment
Jul 2007 - Now
Data Manager/Programmer, Injury Prevention Research Unit,
University of Otago, Dunedin, NZ
Nov 2006 - Apr 2007
IT Support, Columba College, Dunedin, NZ.
Part time work experience & temporary replacement.
Mar - Jun 2005
Apple picker, Mark Darling, Ettrick, Central Otago, NZ.
Aug 2004 - Mar 2005
Fish filleter, Sealord Ltd, Dunedin, NZ.
Feb - Apr 1999, 2000 and 2001
Apple picker, Leo Buysrogge, Richmond, Nelson, NZ.
Jun - Sep 1999, and 2000
Fish filleter, Sealord Ltd, Nelson, NZ.
March 2000 - Jun 2005
Infantry soldier, part time in NZ Army.
Nov 1998 - Mar 2001
Security officer, on call for Alpha Security, Richmond, Nelson, NZ.
Interests
In my spare time I keep myself busy learning new things, running 1/2 marathons, tramping, growing odd vegetables, making beer, wine and mead, and tempting fate on the stock market.
Referees
Provided on request.