Conversations with a Wannabe Scientist

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Are you a STEAM undergraduate or graduate student? An early-career scientist? A science-lover who wants to use your degree to make an impact? This podcast is for YOU! In Conversations with a Wannabe Scientist, we will interview scientists and science advocates whose work focuses on the biggest crises of our day: sustainability, climate change, and environmental justice. Each guest will answer all your questions about how to get involved, take action, and go from a wannabe scientist to the real thing. Your host is Nicole Felts, an ecologist and science communicator. Nicole got her MSc from the University of Maryland Baltimore County in Geography and Environmental Systems. She has a vested interest in empowering students to conduct honorable science and communicate compassionately. Science is at its best when everyone has the opportunity to understand and participate. Podcast logo by Brooke Christiansen. Produced by Nicole Felts.

Episodes

Friday Apr 23, 2021

Academia | Ep 01 | Graduate Research Assistant, Jesse Cone

Friday Apr 23, 2021

What is life like as a forestry graduate research assistant? How does Jesse care for his mental health while in grad school?

In this episode, Jesse shares with us…

What day to day work looks like as a graduate assistant
How forestry materials sequester carbon and promote sustainability
Why plant conservation and forestry is a cornerstone to stopping climate change
His story as a vegetarian, and how that influenced his work
His perspective on conservation work
How to get your dream job in science!

Jesse and Nicole share their wisdom about

The value of networking for future opportunities
Taking advantage of resources as student workers
Pragmatic decision making from undergraduate to graduate studies
How capitalism informs science
Challenges and rewards of fieldwork and research
Ethical implications for different types of research
The importance of work-life balance!

Connect with Jesse

Jesse’s Twitter

Jesse’s LinkedIn

Check out the 21st Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference where Jesse’s thesis presentation won an award

Article about Jesse from Louisiana Tech University

Drought tolerance may be the key to future wood production by Jesse Cone

Resources Jesse mentioned

Purdue University - where Jesse did research work

U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service

Bureau of Land Management

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

USDA Natural Resource Conservation Science

Nicole mistakenly said this paper that was heavily criticized about tree planting was published in the journal Nature; the paper was published in the journal Science. (Timestamp: 20 minutes, 21 seconds)

Job Resources

Zintillect

Great opportunities for recent graduates to gain experience (Undergraduate, graduate, post-doc, etc.) Here’s an example of a unique opportunity

Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Job Board

A conservation job board that has tons of opportunities in wildlife and plant science ( entry-level positions, graduate opportunities, and advanced positions)

USA Job Board