Rewind to two years ago: I was in my second year as a PhD student in Cell and Molecular Biology out at University of Vermont, and started to wonder why I ever wanted this career in the first place. The program was not at all what they made it out to be: instead of the small, close-knit supportive group of intellectuals, it was a poorly managed, un-cohesive group with very little tact, no knowledge of anything beyond their narrow fields of work, and no social skills, acting haughtily toward students and anyone not fortunate or gifted enough to study science. On top of the lack of atmosphere, it was getting cold, and in Vermont that means very cold; as in, below zero degrees for over a week straight and 27 inches of snow in a 2-day storm cold. By the end of that school year, I was bidding that program good riddance and moving on with my life to become a scientific/technical/creative writer and Champlain College MBA student.
Rewind to ten years ago: As a freshman anthropology major at University of Oregon, I had to take a science credit and chose Intro to Genetics, with none other than the Dr. Franklin Stahl, who famously demonstrated semi-conservative DNA replication. The class fascinated me on a level I hadn’t known before: I was reading the book cover-to-cover in my free time, checking out other books on genetics, going to office hours, and getting involved in study groups. By the end of the term, I saw an academic advisor and changed my major. Over the next few years, I would work in several labs and complete a study abroad in South America as part of my studies.
Rewind to six years ago: Having graduated, I served as a volunteer field biologist with US Fish and Wildlife on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, followed by a stint with USFWS in Volcano, Hawaii. This was a most amazing time in my life, and I loved field biology. But to roll it into a career, I needed a Master’s Degree.
Rewind to five years ago: Working on my MS in Genetics/Zoology/Statistics at Washington State University, I had a great project and really cared about the work. The one problem was, Pullman was far away from my family and friends, and, coming from Portland, it had too much of a small-town feel for me. This is what I thought at the time, anyway. Looking back now, I would go all the way to the PhD level there instead of having left for Vermont. However, at the time, my family and friends were pressuring me to go more into Biomedical research instead of Conservation and Field Biology, which many of them saw no point to. Not knowing what exactly I wanted to do with my education, I agreed to change my plan.
If I had a more clear picture of where I was going, I would have had a much better time plotting the course; I had one part of the picture correct in choosing to study something that interested me greatly, but didn’t navigate a career path well enough. The advice I would give for future scientists is this: Find what you want to do for a career and follow the path to get there. Gain experience you like and really know what you need and want from a career. And get along with your co-workers and know everything about the schools you would like to attend, and practice good people skills in addition to your scientific training. Work hard toward your mission. Last but not least, always follow your heart.