Tell us about your current position, and how long youve been at it.
I am a full-time research assistant in a botany lab and a part-time science writer.
What drove you to choose your career path?
Because plants are the best, obviously!
Really, though, Ive always been obsessed with them.
Plants support almost all life on eartheven if youre pure carnivore, your diet is only possible through plants.
Science writing seemed natural for me as well.
I love research and learning about new things, and I really like to get lost in a subject.
Theres so much to learn.
How did you go about getting your job?
What kind of education and experience did you need?
Honestly, I got really lucky.
I was the girl pacing outside of the 8AM lab with my notebook primed and ready.
I was the one who got really pumped about collecting leaf samples.
(Also there was pizza.)
It seemed too good to be true.
I applied, got a travel grant, and did a month of work in the tropical rain forest.
It was the best, most magical summer of my life, and after that I was hooked.
How I got into science writing was another somewhat convoluted path.
One day I was looking around for ways to get involved with bee research.
Besides, plants and pollinators are closely intertwined.
They coevolve and depend on each other, so it makes sense that my favorite animals would be pollinators!
Did you need any licenses or certifications?
I would prefer to put that off as long as possible, to be honest.
What kinds of things do you do beyond what most people see?
What do you actually spend the majority of your time doing?
I do a lot of computer work.
Spreadsheets arent very glamorous, but Excel and I are best friends.
My favorite parts besides field work are the actual lab procedures.
Nothing like carrying around a jug of acid or liquid nitrogen to make you feel tough.
What misconceptions do people often have about your job?
Almost everyone Ive ever talked to thinks that I grow or study Cannabis.
Many people also think that I grow gardens for a living, which is horticulture, not botany.
How does being a lab technician in botany differ from working in labs in other fields?
Im guessing the answer is… plants.
I dont have a particular focus when I write, but I like sustainability a lot.
Does your work entail going out in the field to collect samples?
Thats actually why I got into botany and biology in general.
Traveling is also common and a big plus for me.
herbarium(basically a plant museum).
What are your average work hours?
If Im not traveling or at a conference, I do 40 hours per week.
Field work is more demanding, since it depends entirely on whats out there in nature.
What personal tips and shortcuts have made your job easier?
Keep an open mind always.
What do you do differently from your coworkers or peers in the same profession?
What do they do instead?
Although I work for an academic lab, I am not a grad student.
That means my job is to be a jack of all trades.
Whats the worst part of the job and how do you deal with it?
Research can be very tedious.
Small mistakes can take less than a second but cost you an entire day.
Its what will take me to some interesting and cool conclusions.
Finding places to publish can be very frustrating.
Whats the most enjoyable part of the job?
I love to learn, and I really love learning about plants.
How do you move up in your field?
Generally, I think publications are the go-to indicator of success.
What do people under/over value about what you do?
They undervalue the real impact it has.
There is so much work being done all around the world on every topic imaginable.
On the flip side, I think people also tend to take scientists or science journalists word as gospel.
Just because someone said it doesnt mean its true!
Scientists are human too and we have biases or make mistakes.
Everyone has some capacity to think scientifically, so use it!
What advice would you give to those aspiring to join your profession?
Science is for everyone!
(Yes, even you!)
Everyone is secretly pretending like theyre smarter than they are.
Dont worry if you have to frantically google things.
I do it every day and so does my boss.
You will never regret it.
