October 11, 2019
Paths Through Science: Kristin Ludwig, Staff Scientist, USGS Natural Hazards Mission Area
Paths Through Science highlights the many diverse paths AGU’s scientists have charted across the disciplines within Earth and space science through interviews with professionals in government, academia, industry, and non-profit sectors. For International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction, we talked to Kristin Ludwig, a staff scientist in the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Natural Hazards Mission Area. Check out the full audio interview for more about Ludwig’s career path to …
October 7, 2019
“Which of my skills can I still use if jobs look totally different in the future?” Takeaways from the Workshop on the Future of Undergraduate STEM Education
From 12-13 September, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Roundtable on Systemic Change in Undergraduate STEM Education hosted a public Workshop on the Future of Undergraduate STEM Education. The meeting goals included learning about trends impacting higher education and discussing the Roundtable’s work to improve teaching evaluation and evidence-based instruction. Participants left not only with new ideas about how to improve student learning in STEM, but also what skills are most important for students to develop in order …
September 19, 2019
How to Take Advantage of Networking and Software Training
“We’ve had an overwhelming response and fortunately, your application has been successful.” This is the type of favourable reaction everyone wants to achieve. I was fortunate enough to be accepted into a three-day long software training program at Datamine, in order to learn about their new software called Map Info. The knowledge provided throughout the course was exceptional, but the networking expertise gained from this experience was undeniably the most invaluable …
September 10, 2019
How to Manage Your Job Search as a Full-Time Student
Senior year of college is stressful enough without the additional pressure of finding a job or impressive internship to start immediately after graduation. Between challenging classes, on-campus jobs, senior thesis research, and trying to savor fun moments with friends, you will probably find yourself pressed for time in every area of your life. As someone who struggled with this balance, I am here to offer some advice on how to …
August 21, 2019
Practicing Leadership as an Introvert
In higher ed, the weight of the word “leadership” has ballooned over the years, with growing pressure for undergraduate as well as graduate students to somehow demonstrate the quality. Given the challenge of breaking into the workforce after graduation, it does wonders to have a strong quality like leadership help boost a resume. Now, some people are born with leadership qualities, some get unexpectedly thrown into the position, while some people …
August 7, 2019
The Benefits of Attending Conferences
Although young researchers might feel intimidated by conferences and presenting research for the first time, conferences provide a significant amount of professional and personal development, which makes them an extremely valuable experience. Communicating research in a concise and engaging way can be challenging, especially for less experienced researchers. Presenting at a conference allows young researchers to refine their communication skills. Researchers can practice presenting to an audience and receive immediate feedback …
August 1, 2019
Announcing a New AGU Scholarship Program: Paros Scholarships in Geophysical Instrumentation
Beginning in 2020, AGU’s Seismology, Atmospheric Sciences, and Ocean Sciences Sections are proud to offer Paros Scholarships in Geophysical Instrumentation in the amount of $5,000 to recognize outstanding graduate students demonstrating interest in geophysical instrumentation and precision field measurements. AGU is incredibly grateful for the establishment of this scholarship program, which has been made possible through a generous donation by Jerome M. Paros. “Good science comes from good observers running …
July 22, 2019
A First Geophysics Job with Project Apollo
In 1972, after my freshman year at MIT, Prof. Nafi Toksoz was kind enough to hire me to work in his research group that used data from seismometers the Apollo astronauts installed on the moon. I learned a lot from these excellent scientists, and (hopefully) helped them a little. It was exciting to have even a very minor part in a group investigating the moon’s structure and evolution. I figure …
July 3, 2019
Workplace Etiquette
When it comes to navigating the workplace, professional etiquette is crucial. The image that you portray–particularly your first impression–is one you will carry throughout the duration of your employment at an organization. This perception that you cultivate with your looks and demeanor, as well as how you choose to represent your workplace during off hours, can serve to either hurt or help your career. Here are some helpful tips for …
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 …
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.