I find the position really complements my desire for a fast-paced climate-focused job, my background in Earth Science, and my deep love for the ocean.
What are some typical day-to-day responsibilities you have, or decisions you make?
Every day is different for me. Sometimes I am in meetings with different groups all day, strategizing on the next steps for a product, or making new connections or hearing about new efforts. Sometimes I am focused on very detailed work to support getting new funding to scientists. Sometimes I am editing documents and writing new documents to inform various groups about what NOAA is doing in regard to CDR.
What is your favorite part of your job? What are your job's biggest challenges?
My favorite part of my job is that I am constantly learning in such a fast-paced environment. New research is coming out nearly every day on this topic. The biggest challenge is that I don't have enough hours in the day to keep learning at the pace I want!
What advice do you have for a student interested in your industry? What skills are most crucial?
For anyone who is interested in working on climate or climate-ocean solutions, it is important to have an interdisciplinary background. The Earth and ocean systems are very complex, and many people rely on it for their livelihoods. Being able to understand the science, equity, economic and social dynamics is a must. It is critical to seek an interdisciplinary background as it will teach you how to focus in on small details and allow you to practice zooming back out to the big picture to see connections between various groups.
