PhD in Physics (2013)
- What field of work are you in, and what duties are required in your position?
I work as a scientist for the Federal Government. In my position, I am responsible for research projects, from the design and conception of experiments, to gathering and analyzing data, to presenting and publishing the results. The goal of this work is to help address questions of the government, often in a regulatory or policy context.
- What challenges did you face when looking for work after graduating?
As I was nearing graduation, I was offered a job where I was doing my graduate work. I was able to transition very nicely from a student to an employee through a bridging mechanism in the government. The biggest challenge for me was knowing if this was the type of work that I wanted to do in the long term, or if I should seek opportunities (such as a post-doctoral position) elsewhere.
- How did you arrive at your current position?
As a graduate student, I really enjoyed the work environment I was in, so I was happy to volunteer to help work on projects outside my thesis work. In this way, I started to have a broader understanding of the work being done in my lab and by my colleagues. Since becoming a full time employee, I have continued to have discussions with my supervisor and colleague about our ongoing and potential projects and how I might best contribute to those efforts. In this way, my role has grown and developed with new challenges and new opportunities.
- What advice would you give to a graduate student looking to follow a career path similar to yours?
I would advise students to be active in their communities; particularly in the communities that interest them the most. This could be within their program or faculty, work or social environments; attend seminars, networking events, and socials to get a good idea of what people and groups are working on. In this way, you can get a sense of the type of work you might be interested in, and where these opportunities might exist. Once you have an idea of what you might like to do, ask questions!
Lindsay Beaton has been involved with Carleton’s Alumni Mentoring program. The Alumni Mentors program pairs motivated upper-year students and recent graduates with an alumni mentor. Mentors are established professionals who help students and recent graduates develop skills for the workplace and expand their professional networks.