1. Employment Profile: What exactly does a Scientific Engineering Associate do? |
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 What field is your job in?
Science (Instrumentation engineering / semiconductor radiation detectors)
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What is your job title?
Scientific Engineering Associate
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Please provide a brief description of the firm or organization that you currently work for
(size and general description of what type of organization it is)
I work for a national government laboratory for the Department of Energy. At my particular location, we have a total of over 4000 employees, faculty, and students.
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How long have you been employed in this position?
12 years
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How many hours do you work a week on average?
50
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Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)
I make and test various semiconductor radiation detectors.
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What was your gross income last year? Please include any bonuses or incentives received.
$85000
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What is your expected gross income for this year? Please include any bonuses or incentives you expect to receive.
87000
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Please
list any benefits you have (Please include number of weeks vacation,
sick leave and type of health insurance, retirement plan 401k)
medical, vision, dental
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Do you feel you are under/well/over compensated at your current position?
well compensated
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2. Work environment! |
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Does
your job entail you working with others on a daily basis? Is this
something you like/dislike about your job? Explain
I do not necessarily have to work with others on a daily basis. I am part of a team, and each one of us is responsible for certain tasks to complete a project (or various projects). On most days, I pretty much work alone, but there are other people around. I actually enjoy working by myself most of the time, since I can get a lot of work done with minimal interruptions. However, it is nice to be able to meet with team members at any time to discuss issues and help each other solve any problems.
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Do you work collaboratively with supervisors/managers?
Yes
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Do you work collaboratively with your co-workers?
Yes
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Describe
your work location (e.g., office, home, theatre, in the field) and what
you like/dislike about working in it
As I mentioned above, I work with a group of people who each have his/her own tasks. We as a group also collaborate with other groups as well, and our lab may also collaborate with other organizations.
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Please rank in order of importance from 1-8 (1- most important 8- least important) Assign each number once.
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4 Income
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6 Work Environment - co-workers
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2 Work Environment - supervisors
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5 Benefits
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3 Hours
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7 Level of responsibility
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1 The actual "work" you do at your job
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8 Job Title
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3. How should someone new to the workforce get a J-O-B like yours? |
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If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
You must have a minimum of a Bachelors degree. However, having a Masters and/or a Ph.D. will take you even further. Get some experience while in school by trying to get into a research group. Attend conferences and trade shows, and network.
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What
skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a
position like yours? Please be specific and explain why (e.g., social
skills, organization skills, technical skills)
It is important to be detail-oriented, meticulous, systematic, and organized in the field of science. Without these traits, it is not likely that one would do "good science," as incomplete and incorrect conclusions can easily be drawn. It would be good to have good computer and writing skills, too, since one would have to be able to communicate clearly and well to others.
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Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
Definitely a certain level of training is a must, and education is very important as well
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What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
Be honest. Be patient. You can run into a lot of frustations, whether they be with the work itself or with colleagues. In the end, know that you are contributing to science.
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