Welcome back to our "Get to Know JMP" series, where we showcase the brilliant minds behind our software. Today, we're excited to introduce you to Clay Barker (@clay_barker), a Principal Research Statistician Developer.
On the job...
Clay plays a crucial role in developing the statistical tools that empower our users. “I help create and support platforms in the Analyze menu in JMP," he explained. "One of the cool things about my role is that it’s hard to define a typical day – there is a lot of variety depending on where we are in the development cycle."
His days are a dynamic mix of research, development, and collaboration. "Sometimes I spend a lot of time reading journal articles looking for the right methods to solve customer problems," he said. "I may prototype those methods or implement them in C++ for one of our platforms. Other times I might be fixing bugs, scouring the internet for cool data sets, or making presentations. One constant is communicating with testers and tech support."
Clay's passion for statistics stems from an unlikely source: basketball. "I did my undergrad in Mathematics and graduate school in Statistics, both at North Carolina State University," he said. "I actually first got interested in Statistics as a teen thanks to my love of basketball. When I wasn’t playing, I spent lots of time staring at the numbers in box scores and on the back of basketball cards."
His favorite project at JMP has been developing the Generalized Regression (Genreg) platform in JMP Pro. "Sometimes our customers have lots of data and don’t know which variables are important in modeling their response," Clay explained. "Genreg makes it easy for our customers to tackle this kind of problem using variable selection methods. And then we started dropping Genreg into other platforms like Functional Data Explorer, Text Explorer, and Easy DOE, which was really awesome helping with other parts of the product."
Clay with his family in downtown Raleigh.What Clay values most about working at JMP is the combination of challenge and camaraderie. "I get to constantly challenge myself and learn new things, which I really appreciate,” he said. “But it’s also the people that I work with. I consider myself very lucky to work with a bunch of talented, caring, and fun folks who are working towards the same goals that I am."
For those starting in the field of data analysis, Clay offers insightful advice: "Don’t get comfortable. The field of data analysis is constantly changing, and we need to be ready to adapt. But also continue to work on your communication skills, because they are crucial."
When it comes to representing JMP’s brand, Clay prioritizes approachability. "Approachable is the most important pillar to me," he said. "Statisticians have earned a reputation of being super introverted and difficult to work with and I want to do my part in changing that. I hope to be approachable and maybe even make data analysis look fun, so that colleagues, customers, and friends feel comfortable talking to me about it."
On the side...
Clay occassionally enjoys a round of golf.Outside of work, Clay embraces his role as a dad and pursues his personal interests. "I like cheering on the North Carolina State University basketball teams and playing golf occasionally. And I really enjoy lifting weights in my garage."
A fun fact that might surprise many is his culinary inclination. "I like to cook – in particular on our cast iron skillet," Clay said. "So much so that our kids jokingly call me 'Cast Iron Clay' sometimes."
After a long day, Clay finds relaxation in the outdoors. "Early in the pandemic, we spent a lot of time outside finding hiking trails around RTP [Research Triangle Park]," he said. "We don’t do that as much now, but getting outside after work is usually a top priority. Even if it’s just walking around the neighborhood and catching up with neighbors, there’s something relaxing about being outside."
Clay's dedication to developing innovative statistical tools and his commitment to approachability make him an invaluable member of the JMP team. We're fortunate to have him!
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