The work of a research geologist is eclectic, analytical, and scientific.
My expertise is electron microscopy and image analysis.
What drove you to choose your career path?
I had many inspirations as a child; it started with my earth science class with discovering the planets.
I had a thirst for knowledge to understand processes at a macroscopic scale down to a micro-scale.
How did you go about getting your job?
What kind of education and experience did you need?
I wanted to pursue a career that would expand my perception of the universe by conducting research.
I participated in high school science clubs which provided a scholarship opportunity to attend college at Oregon State University.
Research (nowadays) requires a Ph.D., which took me long nine years.
During my undergraduate, I explored astronomy, oceanography, and geology.
I studied microbial boreholes in freshwater pillow basalt for planetary applications.
What kinds of things do you do beyond what most people see?
What do you actually spend the majority of your time doing?
My time depends on what stage the project is atat the moment I have four projects in different stages.
I also spend a lot of time interfacing with other team members and key partners from universities.
It is also vital for scientists to communicate with one another on their work at scientific conferences.
What misconceptions do people often have about your job?
One misconception is not about my job, but more about the field.
A common joke is that geology is rock for jocks, however, geology can be quite complex.
What are your average work hours?
A normal, professional work week40 hours/week.
More if there are deadlines or traveling.
What personal tips and shortcuts have made your job easier?
It is then helpful to publish the research or put data onto a database for distribution.
We use theEnergy Data eXchange(EDX) at NETL.
What do you do differently from your coworkers or peers in the same profession?
What do they do instead?
As I said above, I spend more time in the experimental and petrographic laboratory and interpreting the results.
Furthermore, many geologists are in academia, which includes research and teaching.
What’s the worst part of the job and how do you deal with it?
Personally, the worst part of the job is the amount of technical writing required.
You undergo a lot of revisions for technical reports and peer reviewed journal articles.
What’s the most enjoyable part of the job?
The most enjoyable part of the job is when I’m using the microscopes.
You get to see details down to a micrometer scale, something the naked eye can’t see.
It’s an unseen world that I get to be a part of.
It can also be like a micro-treasure hunt to find changes in mineral phases or microorganisms.
What kind of money can one expect to make at your job?
Salary can range depending on your education level and where you are employed.
The bottom 10% make $46k whereas the median salary for geologist in all sectors is $84k.
How do you move up in your field?
A geologist can advance their career by getting additional certifications (e.g.
registered geologist) or pursue higher education.
What advice would you give to those aspiring to join your profession?
The best advice I can give to an aspiring geologist is to never stop learning.
As an adult, I still play with LEGO, a cobblestone of my childhood.
While I included both genders in my set, I wanted to highlight that women can be scientists too.
I strongly believe that we can impact young minds and pave the way for future scientists.
We can change the world, one geek at a time.
If you’d like to share your career, email us at[email protected].
