About Tim

I came to data science through fieldwork.

I’m an ecologist turned data scientist based in Tucson. I build data-collection apps, dashboards, databases, and automation tools for environmental consultants, research teams, and small organizations.

Email meView résumé
Tim Gilbert trail running in the desertEcologist → data scientist

Background

From field ecology to data products.

I started by collecting ecological data with the National Ecological Observatory Network (small-mammal trapping, electrofishing, vegetation surveys). I began teaching myself to code because I was curious about what happened to the data after it left the field.

Since 2022 I have built data applications at the University of Arizona, mostly in R and Python, and in 2025 I founded Desert Data Labs. I’m also completing an M.S. in Data Science.

I design for the crew at the plot and for the report that has to land on a desk, because I have worked at both ends.

Based inTucson, Arizona
Builds withR, Python, SQL, Azure
Domain rootsEcology & field science
Off screenLong hikes with my pups, ultra running, loved ones
Field crew working in a rangeland landscape
No signal out here, and the data still has to come back clean.
Small mammal field survey
Small mammal trapping. Years later I built a tracker out of NEON box-trapping records.
Tim Gilbert with his dogs
The home team.

Connect

I want the messy field data, the database that has outgrown Excel, and the question nobody has had time to answer.

tsgilbert@arizona.eduGitHub ↗LinkedIn ↗Desert Data Labs ↗