You are browsing the archive for Uncategorized Archives - On the Job.
January 21, 2020
Planning And Conducting Field Campaigns Abroad – Tips And Tricks
Planning and conducting field work campaigns in new study areas abroad can be challenging. In October 2019, we conducted an extensive field season in tropical West Sumatra within the framework of our project “The impact of precipitation changes on terrigenous sediment export to the Indian Ocean” funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). This is our research group’s first project in Indonesia. There are a lot of logistical needs to …
July 1, 2019
How to Use Social Media Effectively for Work
In recent years, the paradigm has shifted in the way that organizations market their information and communicate with the public. Social media is a powerful tool that allows us to connect with others on a global scale. By mastering the art of social media, you hold an invaluable skillset that makes you an incredible asset to any organization. When workplace social media comes to mind, you may feel inclined to …
May 7, 2019
Ten Tips for Being a Good Partner
A true partnership is when joint decisions are the default, communication is a priority, and everyone is working for something bigger than themselves. Last month, I took a look at what it takes to be a good listener. Community science also depends on good partnership. But what exactly does it mean to be a good partner? How does a good a partner act and talk? Here are some tips I’ve …
February 27, 2019
Communicating Science
Popular television shows such as The Big Bang Theory and Bill Nye, the Science Guy have made science a popular mainstream topic. However, science still encounters skepticism which could be due to the difficult nature of explaining science on a basic level. One of the jobs I’m tasked with as the Chief of Staff for the Water Resources Mission Area (WMA) at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is figuring out …
February 7, 2019
An Oceanographer’s Journey: Meet Dr. Laura Guertin, Professor of Earth Science
This Paths Through Science profile features Dr. Laura Guertin, a Professor of Earth Science at Penn State Brandywine, and the exciting path that led her to a career as a professional geoscientist. Unlike the stories many professional scientists tell about how they developed a passion for science at an early age, Dr. Guertin did not dream of becoming a scientist when she was growing up. In fact, she didn’t know …
February 5, 2019
From a Young Dinosaur Fanatic to an Expert on Fossilized Plants: Meet Dr. Christopher Wnuk
This edition of Paths Through Science features Dr. Christopher Wnuk, a Greenfields Exploration Geologist who is passionate about helping foreign countries develop their mineral-based economies. Ever since he was a young child, Dr. Wnuk has always sought to understand the natural world around him. He found dinosaurs and paleontology particularly fascinating- he enjoyed reading children’s books about dinosaurs and visiting museums to see dinosaur bones. He even found plant fossils …
February 1, 2019
Cyber Literacy for 21st Century Geospatial Professionals
Cyberinfrastructure empowers the growing knowledge economy in the United States, including many components of geoscience, geographic, and spatial research and analysis. But the integration of such training into degree programs and professional training is a difficult question for students, early career professionals, universities, and industries alike. Students and researchers in these disciplines thus often lack experience in using the most advanced tools and techniques to grapple with the crucial global …
November 7, 2017
Fall Meeting workshop on successful partnerships between academia, industry and government
Calling all scientists interested in building successful interdisciplinary partnerships and students curious about non-academic career paths! The American Geophysical Union (AGU) Hydrology Section Student Subcommittee is hosting a workshop entitled, “Forging successful partnerships between academia, industry, and government: the student’s guide to gaining experience in the non-academic realm.” This workshop will be held at the AGU 2017 Fall Meeting on Tuesday, December 12th in the AGU Career Workshop Room, room …
August 18, 2017
From College Chemistry to Capitol Hill: One Student’s Journey to the Finals of a Nationwide Competition
Going to the finals of the Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC) changed my life forever. Held in Washington, D.C. on 14-16 June 2017, I had the opportunity to meet multiple representatives from respected institutions such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) while presenting my project to congressmen, scientists, businessmen, and other professionals on Capitol Hill. The project I presented was called Project …
May 19, 2017
Seth Stein: Navigating the Publication Process
Finishing a successful research project feels great. You have neat results and want to share them. However, young scientists often discover that the next stage, publishing the results, can be tougher and take more emotional energy than the research itself. This isn’t surprising. Research involves trying to figure out something about nature that—to paraphrase Einstein—is “subtle but not malicious.” Publishing, however, involves editors and reviewers who have views about how …
On the Job is an AGU blog, that provides career advice and workforce guidance to geoscience students, early-career and established professionals who are interested in pursuing professional enrichment.