Laura Vander Meiden, Ph.D.

I am an ornithologist, data analyst and writer with a passion for carving large, complicated hunks of information into smaller, more elegant pieces – still laden with information, but newly comprehensible and compelling.

During my PhD I did this with the social behavior of mixed-species flock of birds. Using observation, experimentation, and social network analysis, I took these intricate social systems and broke them into component parts – exploring how the presence or absence of different species or individuals impacted the behavior of their flock mates.

Though my love of birds is unfaltering, my love of data and analysis is not limited to the beaked and feathered. I’ve worked with a wide variety of publicly available datasets investigating everything from partisan patterns in campaign financing to the impacts of player injury on assist networks in the NHL. I relish the challenge of answering difficult questions given limited, existing data and enjoy the process of turning those analyses into clear and creative visualizations.

At my core I am a storyteller. Whether I’m translating birdsong and behavior into technical words and jargon or telling my own story via microessay on Instagram, I’m constantly itching to put pen to paper. My favorites are stories that transcend one medium – requiring data analysis, video or audio alongside the words that spill from my pen.

Have a project you’d like to hire me for? I’m currently accepting contract and freelance work in data analysis and storytelling. Requests can be made via my Contact Me page.