It was actually working in labs that led to Jonathan Myers’ interest in computer science.
Now, as an application programmer specialist with the Facilities Management Division, Myers uses his programming skills to help UGA’s systems run smoothly.
“It’s a puzzle,” he said. “You try to figure out how you’re going to put all the pieces together. You try to do it as fast as you can, and you try to do it as consistently as you can.”
Myers intended to be pre-med but earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from UGA. Knowing his mathematics skills were strong, he went on to get a master’s degree in algorithms and combinatorics.
As part of that degree, Myers took an interest in DNA sequencing and then worked in a crystallography lab coordinating data with the National Center for Biotechnology Information. He obtained another degree in computational biology, learning to write algorithms for biological data.
“The prominent role in computer programming is data management, and the prominent form of data is finance. So, those two go together,” he said.
Myers began his current role working in information technology for FMD in 2015. At the time, he worked in EITS and was asked to join a project working on electronic locks on University Housing buildings. The software he developed to use Primary ID Numbers (PINs) used to unlock doors is still being used today, but more important was the relationship that developed working on that project. When the job became available, he made the move.
Myers has seen changes in policies in his nearly 10 years in this position. The challenge, he said, comes from adapting old data and old standards to those updated policies. The languages and algorithms don’t change — the changes are in how the data is interpreted and organized.
Myers’ primary responsibility to keep things working and fix things when needed. Along with that, he’s making sure all of the data is correct and the programs used to input, check and analyze data are running accurately.
Myers also looks for redundancies and ways he can use programming to make processes smoother. For example, he developed an application that ensures FMD purchase orders from UGAmart are consistently formatted. Workers can download a file of the order and pass it through Myers’ program, which inputs it into their system.
A typical day for Myers begins with checking for help tickets and handling any error messages. Then, he shifts his focus to any ongoing and upcoming projects. He recently worked with FMD’s operations and maintenance department as it reorganizes to make sure work orders and accounts align.
In fact, organizing things happens to be Myers’ favorite part of the job.
“You have start off by asking what the problem is,” he said.
But perhaps the most important thing Myers does is make work a little better and a little easier. That’s the purpose of the programs and applications he creates, and it allows the work of others to shine.
“I just want to do the best I can, and I want to actually make a change in how things move along,” he said.
