Tell us about your current title and role. What are you responsible for day to day?
My current title is Staff Geologist II. My day-to-day responsibilities in the field include collecting water, soil and air samples for analysis, performing field inspections, working with drillers to perform soil borings and well installation. I also perform elevation surveys, health and safety oversight and remediation implementation oversight. In the office I analyze data from field samples, create compound concentration heat maps, groundwater contour maps, create boring logs, create cross sections, create and manipulate GIS maps and data related to GIS maps, write reports, prepare invoices and track budgets.
Everyday my job is always different. I could be in the field doing groundwater sampling, then creating GIS maps for a site across the country in the office, followed by installing monitoring wells with a drilling team in the field the next day.
What attracted you to Salem State’s Geological Science program?
What attracted me to Salem State’s Geology program was that the program was specifically a geology concentrated department as opposed to a degree concentration within a natural sciences department. What also attracted me was the size of the department. With smaller class sizes it allows for more interactive classes and personal connections with professors.
What skills did you learn as a Geological Sciences major?
As a geological Sciences major, I learned skills including the ability to problem solve and critically think when posed with a problem or a set of data to analyze. In addition, I developed many skills related to programs that I use on a regular basis including GIS and Surfer. I also developed important field skills that I use every day such as field note taking and grain size analysis as well as mineral identification.
What did you most enjoy about studying Geological Sciences at Salem State?
What I most enjoyed about studying at Salem State was how much field work and hands-on experience that the department provides. This work really prepared me for what I do now and has made me significantly more comfortable in the field. I also enjoyed the variety of classes that I was exposed to with the required classes for the major and the ability to fine tune the classes I took myself.
How did your time at Salem State prepare you for life after graduation?
Salem State prepared me for life after college by making me work hard and giving me applicable opportunities to perform work similar to what I do in both the field and laboratory setting.
What advice would you give students interested in Geological Sciences at Salem State?
The advice that I would give to students who are interested in Geological Sciences is that the program was the most rewarding thing I have ever done and really prepared me for the job I have today. I would recommend studying geological sciences also because of the diverse work opportunities.