1. What exactly do you do?
- What field is your job in?
Entomological Research - What is your job title?
Research Associate - 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)
A major state university : Louisiana State University
- How long have you been employed in this position?
2 years - How many hours do you work a week on average?
40 - Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)
40 - Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)
Supervising a research lab including the graduate students and undergraduate researchers who comprise the lab population while conducting my own scientific research and mentoring others on their research projects
- What was your gross income last year? Please include any bonuses or incentives received.
33000 - What is your expected gross income for this year? Please include any bonuses or incentives you expect to receive.
35000 - Please list any benefits you have (Please include number of weeks vacation, sick leave and type of health insurance, retirement plan 401k)
Health insurance, annual leave, sick leave, 401k, 403b - Do you feel you are under/well/over compensated at your current position?
Under
2. Work environment!
- Does your job entail you working with others on a daily basis? Is this something you like/dislike about your job? Explain
Working with the people in my lab is fine but I detest interacting with others in the department. Research is actually a pretty ugly field and since my lab has been sabotaged 6 times by a department employee unaffiliated with my lab we have had to install security cameras in my lab.
- Do you work collaboratively with supervisors/managers?
- Do you work collaboratively with your co-workers?
Yes - Describe your work location (e.g., office, home, theatre, in the field) and what you like/dislike about working in it
A basic scientific research lab. I also do substantial work in the field which can range from urban areas to swamps.
- Please rank in order of importance from 1-8 (1- most important 8- least important) Assign each number once.
- 1 Income
- 3 Work Environment - co-workers
- 4 Work Environment - supervisors
- 2 Benefits
- 5 Hours
- 6 Level of responsibility
- 7 The actual "work" you do at your job
- 8 Job Title
3. How should someone new to the workforce get a J-O-B like yours?
- If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
Take a student worker position in a university run lab while they were still a student.
- 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)
Meticulously organized, a strong eye for details, patience, and strong reading comprehension are must have skills for this field
- Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
Yes, I started in the lab when I was a sophmore as a student worker. Once I graduated I was offered to stay on in the lab as a salaried Research Associate - What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
Don't be afraid to ask questions and never fully trust anyone outside of your own lab. Always trust your gut instinct about people and situations. Stay current on all literature pertaining to you field of research.
4. How did you get your J-O-B
- How did you find your current job? (e.g. newspaper, internet, referral, etc.)
I had already been employed in the lab for 4 years as a student worker - What was the application process for your job? (e.g. submitted resume, paper application, electronic application, all, etc.)
Resume, cover letter, 3 reference letters and an interview - Did you have to interview for your current job? If yes, what did the interview process entail? (e.g., number of interviews, who you interviewed with, group interview, individual interview, etc.)
Yes, it was an informal lunch time interview that involved a combination of questions about previous work experience, research goals, and hypothetical questions about problems that could arise in the lab. - If you can remember, what questions were you asked at your interview?
N/A - Is this the job / field you planned to work in?
No - If your job is in a different field from your original plan how did you get here? Explain (Plan can be from high school/college/post college/personal plan)
The economy is so bad I decided to stay with a sure things instead of trying to enter the field I have always wanted to work in. It may not be what I ultimately want to do but I'm good at it and it pays the bills. At least until the next budget cut.
5. Background: Are you qualified?
- Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?
My training mainly comprised the four previous years I had spent in the lab plus a "supervisor" training course I took when I first started in the new position. - Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain
I wish I would have known there was as many interpersonal problems in the department as there are. If I would have known I would have taken my chances elsewhere. - Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain
My degree is in sociology but much of my coursework was in biology. My work now technically comprises research in the field of sociobiology so I do feel I was adequately prepared education wise. - If applicable, do you feel your internship experience helped you prepare you for your job?
6. The Future and Beyond (FINAL SECTION)
- If someone were to observe you at work, what would he or she say is "fun" about your job?
The relationships lab members have with one another. We all genuinely like each other so coming to work is like coming to work with your friends. - What is (are) the most fulfilling aspect(s) and least fulfilling aspect(s) of your current employment? (e.g. fiscal, spiritual, type of work, hours, commute, compensation, etc.)
The most fulfilling part is the part I don't get paid for: helping others solve their pest problems. Of course, discovering new species is also pretty cool. The worst part of this job is being a completely expendable pawn in the eyes of the university. You mean nothing to them and this is shown on a daily basis. - Is your current employment part of your career plan? Why or why not?
I certainly hope not. I could continue this path and be happy but only if this path took me into the private sector and away from the university. - What are your current career goals? (Can be broad or specific)
My ultimate career goal has nothing to do with my current career. I'd like to be the first woman to win the academy award for directing. - Is there anything else you would like to share about your career?
N/A
7. A Day in the Life Of...
- 7 am - 8 am
- 8 am - 9 am
Checked and answered emails from the previous night. Took phone calls and worked with an undergraduate researcher on a research proposal. - 9 am - 10 am
Pinned multiple ants and prepared shipments of ants to be sent to taxonomy experts on Monday. Drowned live ants in ethanol to be used for DNA testing purposes. Fed and watered ant colonies. - 10 am - 11 am
Checked and answered emails. Worked on Career Project survey. Did a literature search on salt water consumption of ants. - 11 am - 12 am
Went to the pre-seminar gathering to meet the guest speaker. Attended seminar. - 12 am - 1 pm
- 1 pm - 2 pm
Pinned and sorted ants. Worked on a research grant. - 2 pm - 3 pm
Sorted through old publications and placed orders for items in danger of going to the recycling bin. Did a phone consultation with a woman concerned she has "Rasberry" ants in her home. - 3 pm - 4 pm
Checked and answered emails. Worked on Career Project survey. Did a literature search on salt water consumption of ants. - 4 pm - 5 pm
Student finished with their quiz, I rechecked their work, and we discussed the identifications that were wrong. Using a teaching microscope we identified the ants step by step using they keys. This allows me to see what the student is getting confused on. Student was sent home with "homework" and told to study morphology charts. - 5 pm - 6 pm
Went home for the day. Will work from home a little bit later in the day. - 6 pm - 7 pm
Edited an exam that will be administered to my boss' students next week and returned my edit to my boss. - 7 pm - 8 pm
- 8 pm - 9 pm
- 9 pm - 10 pm
- 10 pm - 11 pm
- 11 pm - 12 pm