
Amy Mahady
Research Assistant
University of Oregon
University of Oregon
Research Assistant
I perform research, manage a lab, and teach others to do the same.
A great day at work is when I resolve a conflict between two people, help someone with the wording on their paper, replicate results that confirm a hypothesis, and develop a technique that is faster / easier / cheaper. Some days this happens, often some of the things here happen, occasionally there is total failure. That's okay. Even through failure can we learn something.
Here's the first step for high school students
Look around. 1.) Volunteer at the places you think you might one day be interested in working at. I volunteered at a vet clinic and I found out I loved the science but not the medicine. One trick: apply for a job that you don't have the credentials for but offer to work for free. 2.) Join a volunteer service: Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, AmeriCorp. You need a mixed bag of leadership and other skills. 3.) Find a mentor to encourage you. 4.) Interview an expert, you'll be surprised by their answers.
"Can you even get a job?" "Can you support yourself?" "So, how many years in school does that take?" "It's a man's world, you probably won't end up doing it." "Are you going to teach?"