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About My Job I perform research on field trips and in a chemistry laboratory to understand how microorganisms leave chemical evidence of themselves in ancient rocks. Thus my area of research is "bio-geo-chemistry." The first 80 percent of our biosphere's history is the history ONLY of single-celled life. Thus most of the evidence of our early biosphere that has been preserved in old rocks is preserved as chemical compounds and as minerals that have been affected by microorganisms. On field trips, we collect ancient rocks and study microbial ecosystems in hot springs and saline ponds. In the lab, we analyze those field samples, grow microorganisms and also analyze meteorites. We are learning how to find out more about the earliest life on earth, and on how to find evidence of life on Mars and beyond. My Career As a chemistry student in college, I became fascinated by geology when I explored caves on weekends. I became "hooked" on geological chemistry (geochemistry, for short) when I learned in college how much more we can learn about the history of the earth when we also perform chemical analyses of rocks. I graduated from college with a chemistry degree, and from graduate school with a geochemistry degree. My PhD dissertation was a study of carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen in lunar rocks. My postgraduate work at UCLA explored the biogeochemistry of microorganisms, and how their chemical remains might be studied in ancient rocks. Positives and Negatives The positive aspects include the exciting and rewarding aspects of this area of research, and the excellence of many of the other researchers I have been privileged to work with. The negative aspects included the many years of declining funding for NASA science that occurred between the 1970's and the mid-1990's that forced many hard choices about priorities. Included in this has been the concern about the need for a higher level of interest and capability of American students, regarding science and technology. Preparation For My Career Activities that encourage personal initiative, such as exploration, or the pursuit and completion of projects, were really important. Books about exploration or that stress the personal and societal value of cooperation and achievement were really motivating. Many aspects of the space program embody such aspects. Advice Become involved in projects and such that teach you how things work, how people can become more effective through cooperation, and so forth. If you find something interesting in school related to science, check out the topic at the library or on the web, and definitely talk with your teacher about it. Take the lead in getting things done; this builds your desire and ability to take the initiative. If those things involve science and/or technology, then maybe you will move toward a research career like mine. But in any case, you'll move toward a career that will be both important and satisfying. Influences These include a high school chemistry teacher, a college geology professor, and a graduate research advisor in geochemistry, all of whom were deeply inspirational to me. Future I envision a future where, in addition to what I can accomplish in research, I will help others to attain their research goals. Opening opportunities for others to advance their careers and to make discoveries is perhaps one of the most satisfying professional experiences of all. Personal Information I have a son who is a Junior at UC Berkeley in biology, and a daughter who is a senior in high school, and is interested in physics. |
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