# Win Cowger

> Environmental Data Scientist

**Wikidata**: [Q91994914](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q91994914)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/win-cowger

## Summary
Win Cowger is an American environmental data scientist, programmer, and hydrologist known for his work in environmental modeling and open-source software development. He is the creator of Open Specy, a specialized open-source tool used for FTIR and Raman spectroscopy analysis.

## Biography
- Born: 1992-11-30 in Concord
- Nationality: United States
- Education: Doctorate in Environmental Science (University of California, Riverside); Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science (Iowa State University); Associate degree in Art (Hawkeye Community College)
- Known for: Development of Open Specy software for spectroscopy
- Employer(s): University of California, Riverside; Iowa State University
- Field(s): Environmental Science, Data Science, Hydrology

## Contributions
Win Cowger has significantly contributed to the field of environmental science through the integration of data science and spectroscopy. His most notable achievement is the development of **Open Specy**, an open-source software platform designed for Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy. This tool allows researchers to process and identify spectral data, which is essential for analyzing environmental samples, such as identifying microplastics.

Cowger’s professional career includes a tenure as a research assistant at Iowa State University (2014–2015) and extensive work at the University of California, Riverside, where he served as a researcher and doctoral student from 2017 to 2022. Working under the mentorship of Andrew B. Gray, Cowger focused on environmental modeling and hydrology. He is an active proponent of open data, maintaining various software repositories and digital tools to make environmental research more accessible and transparent.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Open Specy?
A: Open Specy is an open-source software tool developed by Win Cowger for FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, used to identify and analyze the chemical composition of materials in environmental research.

### Q: What are Win Cowger's academic qualifications?
A: He holds a Doctorate in Environmental Science from the University of California, Riverside, a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Iowa State University, and an associate degree in art from Hawkeye Community College.

### Q: What other names is Win Cowger known by?
A: In professional and academic circles, he is also known as Win Colton Cowger, Dr. Cowger, and the alias "Dr. Trash."

## Why They Matter
Win Cowger’s work is pivotal in modernizing environmental monitoring through open-source technology. By creating and maintaining Open Specy, he has provided the global scientific community with a free alternative to expensive, proprietary spectroscopy software. This democratization of tools is particularly important for researchers studying plastic pollution and water quality, where rapid and accurate material identification is required. His role as an "Environmental Data Scientist" represents a growing discipline that uses programming and computational modeling to address complex ecological crises.

## Notable For
*   **Developer of Open Specy:** Created a widely used open-source tool for Raman and FTIR spectroscopy.
*   **Open Data Advocate:** Maintains active contributions to the scientific community via GitHub (wincowgerDEV) and other open-access platforms.
*   **Academic Research:** Conducted significant doctoral research at the University of California, Riverside, focusing on environmental science and hydrology.
*   **Interdisciplinary Expertise:** Combines skills as a naturalist, hydrologist, and software engineer to solve environmental data challenges.

## Body
### Academic Career and Education
Win Cowger’s educational background is interdisciplinary, beginning with an associate degree in art from Hawkeye Community College (2011–2013). He transitioned to the sciences at Iowa State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in environmental science (2013–2015). He completed his formal education at the University of California, Riverside, where he was a doctoral student from 2017 to 2022, eventually earning his doctorate in environmental science.

### Professional Affiliations
Cowger has been affiliated with several key academic institutions:
*   **Iowa State University:** Served as a research assistant from 2014 to 2015.
*   **University of California, Riverside:** Worked as a researcher and doctoral student between 2017 and 2022. During this time, he was a student of Andrew B. Gray.

### Technical Contributions and Software
As a programmer and software engineer, Cowger focused on creating tools for the scientific community. His primary project, **Open Specy**, serves as a critical resource for spectroscopy. His work is characterized by the use of data science and modeling to interpret hydrological and environmental datasets.

### Digital Presence
Cowger maintains a robust digital footprint to share his findings and tools. This includes his personal website (wincowger.com), a GitHub profile for software development (wincowgerDEV), and active engagement on professional and social networks such as ResearchGate, Google Scholar, and Mastodon.

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## References

1. [ORCID Public Data File 2021](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0/0000-0001-9226-3104/education/14153222)
2. [ORCID Public Data File 2021](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0/0000-0001-9226-3104/employment/14153184)
3. [ORCID Public Data File 2023](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0/0000-0001-9226-3104/employment/14153175)
4. [Source](https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9226-3104)
5. [Source](https://www.thegraylab.org/)