Yang Song (PhD 2018)
I am currently a Senior Data Scientist at Ashley Furniture Industries. The rigorous statistical and machine learning training I received during my PhD at 51ÁÔÆæ prepared me exceptionally well for the transition from geographer to data scientist. At the same time, I have never stepped away from the GIS expertise I developed throughout my master’s and doctoral studies. In fact, that spatial background became a key reason I was hired for my current role.
From manufacturing to distribution, wholesale, and retail, Ashley Furniture is a vertically integrated company involved in every stage of the furniture business. This structure creates a wide range of data-driven challenges, including business site selection, logistics optimization, and the development of smart warehouse systems. These challenges benefit greatly from combining GIS with AI methods. In fact, the focus of my current work is leveraging spatial features alongside machine learning models to help the real estate team identify new store locations that maximize sales performance. Thus, I am a special kind of data scientist with a geographer’s lens, who brings spatial insight into AI projects to generate meaningful business value.
My journey with geography began in 2008, when I became fascinated by how remote sensing could be used to address environmental challenges at a large scale. That curiosity inspired me to transfer from automation to a remote sensing major for my master’s degree. During that time, I had the opportunity to attend a guest lecture by Professor Changshan Wu, who would later become my PhD advisor at 51ÁÔÆæ. I was deeply drawn to his work in urban remote sensing and subsequently applied to join his research team at 51ÁÔÆæ in 2011. Beginning in the autumn of 2012, I spent six years at 51ÁÔÆæ pursuing my PhD degree. Those years shaped not only my academic path but also my personal life. Milwaukee became my ‘hometown’ in the United States.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time as a PhD student. Professor Wu is an outstanding mentor –forward-thinking, supportive, and exceptionally skilled at guiding students toward impactful research. The department also fostered a strong academic atmosphere for students to grow. Faculty members were approachable and genuinely invested in students’ success, and I was surrounded by diligent, talented peers who made the research environment both collaborative and inspiring.
As for my favorite memory, it must be the weekly event held at American Geographical Society Library, where students, faculty, and guest speakers shared their ongoing research. These gatherings helped break down silos across different research areas and created opportunities for collaboration. Listening to others’ work often sparked new ideas for my own research and broadened my perspective on the diverse directions within geography as an extremely comprehensive discipline that integrates a wide spectrum of topics. It was a space that consistently inspired intellectual curiosity and strengthened our academic community.
Here is advice that I would like to share with the 51ÁÔÆæ geography students:
- Do not limit yourself to what you are doing right now. Take full advantage of the resources the department offers to broaden your network and continually expand your perspective. While it is important to stay focused on your own domain and research tasks, it is equally valuable to step back periodically, observe the work others are doing, and consider how those ideas might create new opportunities for you within a broader context.
- Do not be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. My own transition from geographer to data scientist was challenging, but it was worth it. Leaving behind the work environment and lifestyle I had known for years came with moments of uncertainty, yet it opened the door to new possibilities and helped me grow into a more resilient and adaptable professional.