In late winter and early spring, chaos starts to ramp up again, as you gear up for summer, ordering all the supplies you’ll need, making plans and getting permits. It’s a highly dynamic and ever-changing job!
Early on in my Ph.D. program, I spent more time doing course work, reading papers or preparing for exams. These days, as a fifth year Ph.D. candidate looking towards graduation, I'm just generally trying to steer my work towards its conclusion while I begin to look for post-doc positions. I have a few research technicians working under me, so I’ve taken on a more managerial, broad-picture role, which has added tasks like management, advisement and training to my plate. It has also removed a lot of tedious tasks at the same time.
Outside of official work, I also participate in reading groups, which are a good way to stay up on literature, attend weekly seminars, and volunteer around the department.
What is your favorite part of your job? What are your job's biggest challenges?
My favorite part of my job is the variety. Every day is different, so I never get bored. I also enjoy being embedded in a community of like-minded curious people is a rewarding, often stimulating work environment.
I'd say my biggest challenge is staying on a task or sticking to timelines. I have a tendency to over-invest in pretty much anything I'm doing, so the biggest challenge is being disciplined about when to finish a task. “The perfect is the enemy of good enough," I think they say.
What advice do you have for a student interested in your industry? What skills are most crucial?
Do research.
