GIS Researcher · Full-stack Dev · FAA Part 107 Certified

Hi, I'm Aaryn Warrior.
GIS researcher and full-stack developer at UNI.

I build AI-powered web apps and Python spatial tools. Currently a GIS Research Assistant at UNI's GeoTREE Center, and starting an MA in Geography at UNI in fall 2026.

Next.js & TypeScriptClaude APISQL & MySQLPythonArcGIS ProGeoJSONFigmaFirebase
Aaryn Warrior
About me

Developer, researcher,
problem solver.

I'm a CS graduate from the University of Northern Iowa, where I completed a BA in Computer Science (Systems Emphasis), a Geography minor with GIS emphasis, and a GIS Certificate — all in May 2026. I'm heading back to UNI as an incoming graduate student to pursue an MA in Geography.

I independently built SmartFlavr, an AI-powered recipe platform, led a student team delivering a custom scheduling app for a real business client, and currently work as a GIS Research Assistant at the UNI GeoTREE Center.

Denver CAPS Program alum · UNISEC member · ICDC Defense Competition 2025

5×
Dean's List at UNI
2+
Years full-stack dev
GIS
Research assistant
3
Shipped projects
FAA
Part 107 Certified Pilot
What I work with

Skills & tools

Full-stack & AI development

Building production apps end-to-end — from database schema and API routes to AI-powered features and polished UIs. Comfortable across the entire stack in TypeScript, Python, and SQL.

Computer science
Next.js
App Router · SSR
TypeScript
Strong typing
Python
Scripts · Data · GIS
SQL / MySQL
Schema design
Claude API
AI · Prompting
Firebase
Auth · Storage
Git / GitHub
Version control

GIS & geospatial analysis

Experienced with ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, ERDAS Imagine, and Python-based GIS scripting — working with raster, vector, and lidar data to produce spatial analyses, automated pipelines, and interactive web maps.

GIS & geospatial
ArcGIS Pro
Analysis · Mapping
ArcGIS Online
Web maps · Sharing
ERDAS Imagine
Remote sensing · Lidar
GIS Scripting
Python · API calls
GeoJSON / KML
Spatial data formats
Leaflet.js
Interactive web maps
Design & project tools
Figma
UI design · Prototyping
Trello
Project management
What I've built

Projects

SmartFlavr↗

Collaborative cookbook web app where users can post food-related content and cook together in real time. Uses AI to extract recipes from links, photos, and more. Also supports meal planning and grocery lists. Built solo and actively developed.

Next.jsClaude APIMySQLFirebaseCloudinary
In progress
UNI 150 Day of Service Routing↗

Route optimization web map built for UNI's 150th Day of Service. Python pipeline splits stops across two origins and shifts, calls the Google Directions API for waypoint-optimized routing, and exports GeoJSON — hosted on GitHub Pages. Note: routes shown use test addresses from restaurants in the Black Hawk County area and were not used in the actual event.

PythonGoogle Directions APIGeoJSONLeaflet.jsGitHub Pages
Demo password: Uni1502026!
DJI Matrice 400 + Zenmuse L3 Field Guide↗

Field guide built for the UNI GeoTREE Center covering DJI Matrice 400 / Zenmuse L3 LiDAR operations end to end — unboxing, setup, battery management, pre-flight checklists, flight controls, and data storage protocols. Data-driven design keeps all steps and checklists in a single script, with localStorage-backed progress tracking for the pre-flight checklist.

HTML/CSS/JSGitHub PagesUAS/GISFAA Part 107
Brown Bottle Scheduling App↗

Led a student team across multiple semesters to build a custom scheduling and management app for The Cedar Falls Brown Bottle restaurant. Designed and built the database and backend from scratch using SQL, TypeScript, and Python, working directly with the client and faculty advisor Dr. Andrew Berns.

Team leadSQLTypeScriptPythonFigmaTrello
Background

Work experience

Aug 2026 – Present
Graduate Teaching Assistant
UNI Dept. of Geography — Cartographic Design, Cedar Falls, IA
  • Lead in-class lab sessions and grade cartographic design assignments, providing feedback on map composition and technique.
  • Hold office hours to support students with map design projects and coursework.
  • Help prepare course materials and lab assignments alongside the instructor.
Feb 2026 – Present
GIS Research Assistant
UNI GeoTREE Center — Cedar Falls, IA
  • Assessed lidar imagery to assign land use classifications with proper judgment.
  • Applied AI and programming skills for black-box testing of ERDAS Imagine software.
  • Documented steps and decisions to support reproducibility and project transparency.
May 2024 – Jul 2025
Kitchen Lead
Brown Bottle — Cedar Falls, IA
  • Given leadership to manage and direct staff during closing hours.
  • Excelled in every kitchen position and earned a mark of proficiency.
  • Used time management to optimize service and relay guidance to staff.
Aug 2022 – Jan 2026
Venue Dining Assistant
Piazza Dining Center — Cedar Falls, IA
  • Trusted in a leadership position when supervisors stepped away.
  • Coordinated effectively with coworkers to improve productivity.
  • Operated grills and fryers and planned out preparation efficiently.
Jan 2021 – Dec 2022
Kitchen Staff
AllyCatz Kitchen — Denver, IA
  • Operated fryers and grills, prepared food, and maintained kitchen cleanliness.
  • Stepped into additional roles during busy periods to cover important stations.
Academic background

Education

Master of Arts in Geography
University of Northern Iowa — Cedar Falls, IA
Expected May 2028
Incoming fall 2026
BA in Computer Science (Systems Emphasis)
University of Northern Iowa — Cedar Falls, IA
Completed May 2026
Graduated5× Dean's ListGeography Minor (GIS)GIS & Cartography Cert
High School Diploma
Denver Senior High School — Denver, IA
Completed May 2022 · High honor roll every quarter · Academic letter · 3 sports certificates
Denver CAPS Program
Affiliations & competitions
UNI UNISEC · ICDC Defense Competition 2025
Active involvement in academic and competitive organizations throughout university career.
Say hello

Let's connect

Open to internships, research roles, freelance work, and interesting collaborations.

aarynjwarrior@gmail.com LinkedIn: Aaryn Warrior a0warrior smartflavr.com