February 21, 2019
6 Steps to Creating a Triumphant Resume
Do you find job searching to be time consuming, frustrating, and possibly even disappointing? When you are competing against so many other applicants for one job opening, it’s best to be prepared so you can apply quickly and with the least amount of stress. It is your responsibility to quickly demonstrate that you are a match for the job qualifications, and the organization. It is the employer’s job to figure …
February 11, 2019
Survey Says…
For the last five years, the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) has collected data from graduates of geosciences programs about their education and career activities. Some of the most interesting results from the 2016-2017 academic year survey are summarized below. This year, 513 students (419 bachelor, 58 masters, and 36 doctoral) from 147 schools participated. The demographics have not changed significantly, with 40% or more females at all degree levels, and …
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
Volunteering and Experience Beyond Your Field
As an undergraduate student, you often hear the words “experience” and “internship” and feel the pressure of obtaining an internship or experience directly related to your major(s) and intended career path. While it is important to gain experience in your field where you can see the practical applications of the knowledge you have gained through your coursework, volunteering and other experiences outside of your major(s) can be equally beneficial. We’ve …
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 …
Overcome Nomination Hurdles
How you should overcome the hurdle to nominate women and URM for honors, awards, and medals. The situation Each year organizations and societies such as the AGU recognize deserving earth scientists and professionals nominated or vetted by their peers during the honors and award sessions. Last year (2018) AGU received criticism from people on social media, e.g. on twitter, regarding the lack of diversity in the slate of …
January 14, 2019
What do you value?
What do you value? When you start thinking about making a change in your career, whether to a new job or a whole new field, most scientists immediately focus on their technical skills. Some may think about their non-technical (also called soft or transferable) skills – communication, negotiation, leadership, and so on. Your skill set is crucial to your career success, and it is your expertise in these areas that …
December 28, 2018
Scientists who leave academia aren’t dropouts. They’re scientists.
I’m a researcher turned policy wonk turned scicommer turned communications trainer and storyteller. Even though I’ve changed trajectories many times throughout my (so far) short career, one thing has remained constant: I am a scientist. However, this hasn’t always been how I felt. It’s taken me a long time to accept that I made the right decision. But sometimes, something happens to make me feel guilt, uncertainty, other-ness… Recently, this …
December 20, 2018
Internships in the U.S. Capital
Washington, DC (Internship) Universe: Policy Positions and Beyond in the U.S. Capital I’ve heard that you can be an intern in Washington, DC, on a virtually indefinite basis. After 6 months working in the U.S. capital city, my preliminary findings so far confirm the idea. In my time in Washington, I’ve held two internships. My first internship was at the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) working in geoscience policy, and my …
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.