Hi, I am Cédric.

I am a computational ecologist by 🎓 and an independent data visualization designer by ❤️

As a graduated ecologist, I have acquired an extensive hypothesis–driven research experience and problem–solving expertise in data wrangling, statistical analysis, and model development. Since effective communicating of data is of paramount importance, I have subsequently developed strong skills in data visualization, journalism, and design.

As an independent data visualization designer, I combine my expertise in analyzing large data sets with my passion for design, colors and typefaces. I have designed graphics across all disciplines, purposes, and styles applying a code–first approach. I regularly talk about data visualization design and teach fundamental and advanced R coding and ggplot2 techniques.

Data Visualization Design

I have been working as an independent data visualization specialist since the beginning of 2020. Since then I have worked for a large number of clients as a designer, consultant, analyst, and workshop instructor in the field of data visualization and reproducible analysis.

I am constantly strengthening my skills in design and have built a diverse portfolio covering a wide range of topics, chart types, purposes, and tools by creating commisioned work, conducting self-led personal projects, and contributing to numerous data visualization challenges such as #TidyTuesday, #30DayMapChallenge, and #30DayChartChallenge.

    →  Check out my designs
    →  Watch my most-recent talks

Computational Ecology

I am working as a scientific researcher (PostDoc) in the Department “Ecological Dynamics” at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) in Berlin, Germany. As a computational scientist, I apply analytic and mechanistic modeling approaches to answer questions related to the movement ecology of animals and the dynamics of populations, communities and diseases in space and time. In 2019, I was awarded a Ph.D. degree in Ecology (Dr. rer. nat.) at the University of Potsdam as part of the BioMove research training group.

    →  Read my publications
    →  Learn more about my research

Code–First Approach

My favorite tool for all data-related tasks, no matter if for data visualization design or research, is the programing language R, an open source and highly extensible language for statistical computing and graphics techniques. A code–first, script–based workflow allows for reproducible, transparent, and partly or completely automated workflows.

To visualize data I mainly utilize the package {ggplot2} from the {tidyverse} package collection including many more that I use on a daily basis for all kinds of data preparation and analysis. More recently, I find myself enjoying using also other, non-programing design and charting tools such as Figma, DataWrapper, and Flourish which I combine with the code–first approach.

Contact

Dr. rer. nat. Cédric Scherer

Researcher at Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW)
Movement Ecology • Eco-Epidemiology • Population & Community Dynamics
scherer@izw-berlin.de

Curriculum Vitae

• Education & Professional Expericence
• Teaching
• Publications
• Presentations
• Teaching
• Awards & Honors
• Skills
• Memberships & Services

Education & Professional Experience

• Independent Data Visualization Specialist (since 2020)
• Self-employed, Berlin, Germany
• Services: Graphic design, cartography, reproducible data analysis, statistical modeling, consulting, workshops
• Tools: R, Shiny, Figma, DataWrapper, Flourish, RAWgraphs, SQL, html, CSS
• Scientific Researcher (PostDoc) (since 2019)
• Department of Ecological Dynamics, Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
• Topics: Movement ecology, population dynamics, disease ecology, coexistence theory
• Tasks: Data analysis, statistical and mechanistic modeling, spatial analysis, data visualization, cartography, software development, code management, lab support and supervision
• Tools: R, QGIS, NetLogo
• Ph.D. in Ecology (2015–2019)
• Department of Ecological Dynamics, Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany, within the DFG Research Training Group "BioMove", University of Potsdam, Germany
• Topics: Movement ecology, disease ecology, population dynamics, coexistence theory
• Tasks: Mechanistic and analytical modeling, spatial analysis, data visualization, R package development
• Tools: R, Shiny, NetLogo, QGIS
• Speaker SIG "Young Modellers in Ecology" (2015–2019)
• Young Modellers in Ecology (YoMos), Special Interest Group of the Ecological Society of Germany, Austria & Switzerland (GfOe)
• Tasks: Lead of the organizational teams, conference chair, workshop instructor
• Visiting Research Student (2017)
• Getz Lab, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
• Topics: Evolutionary biology, disease ecology, population dynamics, theoretical ecology
• Tasks: Developing genetic algorithms for agent-based models
• Tools: Numerus modelling platform, R
• Research Assistant (2015)
• Department of Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, University of Potsdam, Germany within the DFG Priority Program "Infrastructure-Biodiversity-Exploratories”
• Tasks: Mechanistic modeling, literature research, proposal writing
• Tools: R, Netlogo, C++
• M.Sc. in Ecology, Evolution and Nature Conservation (2011–2014)
• University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
• Topics: Computational ecology, climate change biology, population dynamics, dryland ecology
• Tasks: Deterministic and stohastic modeling, data collection, data analysis
• Tools: R, C++, MatLab, SPSS
• Internship (2011)
• "AgroScapeLabs", Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Muencheberg, Germany
• Tasks: Catching, collaring and analysis of movement data of red foxes, raccoons and brown hares
• Tools: R, QGIS
• B.Sc. in Life Sciences (2008–2011)
• University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
• Topics: Organismic biology, movement ecology, animal behavior
• Tasks: Data collection, processing, statistical modeling
• Tools: R, MatLab, Excel

Selected Publications

• C Voigt, C Scherer & V Runkel (2022) Modelling the power of acoustic monitoring to predict bat fatalities at wind turbines.
  Conservation Science and Practice X:e12841.
• L Figueiredo, C Scherer & JS Cabral (2022) A simple kit to use computational notebooks for more openness, reproducibility, and productivity in research. PLOS Computational Biology 18(9):e1010356.
• C Scherer, V Radchuk, M Franz, H-H Thulke, M Lange, V Grimm & S Kramer-Schadt (2020) Moving infections: Individual movement decisions drive disease persistence in spatially structured landscapes. Oikos 129(5):651–667.
• C Scherer, V Radchuk, C Staubach, S Müller, N Blaum, H-H Thulke & S Kramer-Schadt (2019) Seasonal host life-history processes fuel disease dynamics at different spatial scales. Journal of Animal Ecology 88(11):1639–1824.
• V Radchuk, F De Laender, J Sarmento Cabral, I Boulangeat, M Crawford, F Bohn, J De Raedt, C Scherer, J-C Svenning, K Thonicke, F Schurr, V Grimm & S Kramer-Schadt (2019) The dimensionality of stability depends on disturbance type. Ecology Letters 22(4):647–684.
• M Sciaini, M Fritsch, C Scherer & CE Simpkins (2018) NLMR and landscapetools: An integrated environment for simulating and modifying neutral landscape models in R. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 9(11):2240–2248

→ List of Publications

Selected Presentations

• “Engaging visualization design to successfully communicate data.”
  MALT Community – 09|2022 – remote
• “Effective data visualization: design graphics to tell stories in an engaging way.”
  Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) – 04|2022 – remote
• “Mit Grafiken Mehrwert schaffen: Prinzipien effektiver Datenvisualisierung und -kommunikation.”
  Federal Institute for Population Research (Bundesinstitut für Bevölkerungsforschung) – 02|2022 – remote
  ↪ Slides (German)   ↪ Slides (English)
• “Beyond bar and box plots: chart alternatives and how to design them with ggplot2”
  USGS Community for Data Integration – 09|2021 – remote
  ↪ Slides   ↪ Recording   ↪ Hands-On Tutorial
• “My favorite ggplot2 extension packages.”
  R Ladies Tunis – 07|2021 – remote
  ↪ Slides   ↪ Recording
• “The first #30DayChartChallenge: A summary of inspiring contributions, our learnings, and about the value of challenges in general.”
  DataVis Lisboa – 05|2021 – remote
  ↪ Slides   ↪ Recording
• “ggplot wizardry: my favorite tricks and secrets for beautiful plots in R.”
  Talks + Coding Session – DVS Outlier Conference 2021 – 02|2022 – remote
  ↪ Slides   ↪ Recording   ↪ Hands-On Tutorial
• “Effective data visualization: how to design impactful and aesthetically pleasing charts.”
  Heureka Labs & Duke+DataScience – 10|2020 – Duke University, Durham, USA (Webinar)
  ↪ Slides   ↪ Recording

→ List of Presentations

Selected Conducted Workshops & Trainings

• “Data visualization in R with {ggplot2}”
  4x 5-Day Workshop – Physalia Courses – 03|2020, 11|2020, 11|2021 + 11|2022 – Berlin/remote
• “Graphic design with {ggplot2}: how to create engaging and complex visualizations in R”
  2-Day Conference Workshop – rstudio::conf(2022) by Posit – 07|2022 – Washington, D.C., USA
• “Mastering scientific data visualizations: principles and practice with {ggplot2}”
  2x 1/2-Day Conference Workshops – European Meeting for PhD Students in Evolutionary Biology (EMPSEB) – 05|2022 – Espoo, Finland
• “Hands-on data visualization with ggplot2: how to create engaging and well-designed visualizations in R”
  5-hour Live Training – Pearson–O'Reilly Live Training Event – 09|2021, 12|2021 + 04|2022 – remote
• “Data visualization in science: how to create beautiful charts with {ggplot2}”
  1/2-Day Workshop – University of Uppsala – 11|2021 – remote
• “Effective data visualization: convert information into visual forms—and tell a story”
  1/2-Day Workshop – Senckenberg Young Scientists – 11|2021 – remote
• “Data visualization in R (Beginner + Advanced)”
  Two 2-Day Workshops for Royal Zoological Society of Belgium (RZSB) and Statistics Communication Section of the Netherlands Society for Statistics and Operations Research – remote – 10|2021 + 12|2021
• “Data visualisation techniques for data scientists”
  2-Day Internal Training – Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) – 02|2021 – remote

→ List of Workshops and Trainings

Awards & Honors

• Winner “Mapping Movements” Contest 2021 in the category "Pretty Map" plus Runner-Up in the category “R Maps” for the Cheetah map
• Honorable Mention RStudio Contest 2020, designing a static table
• Winner “CorrelAidX Challenge 2020”, designing an interactive Shiny app
• PostDoc Stipend, funded by the University of Potsdam (9 month full position)
• Best Poster, GRC “Movement Ecology of Animals”, Ventura, CA, USA (March 2017)

Skills

• Languages: German (native), English (fluent)
• Programming: R, CSS, html, SQL/SQLite, NetLogo, Python
• Statistics: R (e.g. lm4, glmmTMB, CARBayesST, adehabitat, broom, tidytext, tidymodels), Excel, SPSS
• GIS: R (e.g. sf, stars, terra, raster, rgdal, rgeos, sp), QGIS, GRASS, ArcGIS
• Visualization: R (e.g. ggplot2, Shiny, plotly, echarts4r, leaflet, tmap, gganimate, highchartr), Figma, DataWrapper, Flourish, RAWgraphs, Highcharts, CartoDB
• Markup: Markdown, R (e.g. Rmarkdown, blogdown, bookdown, xaringan), LaTeX

Memberships & Services

• Peer Review: CRC Press, Journal of Animal Ecology, Oikos, BMC Ecology, Ecology and Evolution, Landscape Ecology, Ecological Modelling
• Functional Roles: Speaker of the SIG “Young Modellers in Ecology (YoMos)” (2015–2019); spokesperson in the research training group “BioMove” (2015–2018); part of the MCED award committee (2015–2019)
• Memberships: CorrelAid volunteer (since 2019); Data Visualization Society (since 2019); “R for Data Science” Online Learning Community (since 2018)
• Conference Organisation: 11th–14th Workshop of the Young Modellers in Ecology (2016–2019); 1^st International BioMove Symposium (2018); Annual Symposium of the Ecological Society of Germany, Austria & Switzerland (2013)