ANDREW ANTAYA

Andrew Antaya is a Data Coordinator for the Advancing Markets for Producers project at South Dakota State University, with a background that bridges wildlife conservation and data-driven research in grazing and rangeland systems.

Andrew holds a Bachelor of Science in Fish and Wildlife Sciences from Paul Smith's College and began his career working in the field with endangered species across the United States. His experience includes conservation and monitoring work with endangered songbirds in Texas, as well as pronghorn and bat populations in Arizona. This foundation gave him a practical understanding of ecological systems, animal behavior, and the realities of field-based data collection.

He has since transitioned into data-focussed roles, where he specialises in managing, processing, and analysing complex datasets from grazing and ecological studies. His work includes developing and contributing to tools for analysing grazing behavior, integrating spatial and sensor-derived data, and supporting reproducible research workflows. He is actively involved in coding and data analysis, with experience in R, Python, and collaborative research environments.

Andrew earned his Master of Science from the University of Arizona and is currently pursuing a PhD in Animal Science at South Dakota State University. His dissertation focuses on integrating precision livestock technologies for animal and grazing management.