Please include details about your educational background and what sparked your interest in atmospheric or related sciences.

As a non-traditional person who lacked academic access as a child, or in my ‘traditional college years’, my story is flipped: My work experience informed my educational interest in the atmospheric sciences. My first career was as a news videographer, working in the field, all around the country. Covering many tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, blizzards, and fires, I became invested in better understanding the weather and its impact on our most vulnerable communities. My pathway into school was filled with a lot of self-teaching and research, as I knew that I enjoyed the science of weather, but otherwise knew little about how scientists studied weather. It wasn't until I was 33 that I took my first academic science class at a local community college. Studying earth science under a trained meteorologist, I began to see how my desire to educate myself could be informed by my career skills. I continued in community college until I had enough credits to apply for transfer to a four-year university. In 2018, I completed my BS in Atmospheric Physics at New Mexico Tech in Socorro, NM. I began graduate school that fall at the University of Miami, where I have just completed the second year of my PhD studies.

What was your first job in the field and how did you end up in the job you are in now?

My first job in the field was shooting severe weather as a television news videographer. Knowing how important work experience is to future success, and how my personal learning is so indelibly linked to my hands-on application of science, I immediately volunteered for a research group in the first semester at my university. It was in this position that I learned about numerical weather models, how to code, and how to visualize data. From there, I sought out every internship that I could find and just kept applying myself to deeper research goals. My time as a SOARS Protege at NCAR was truly the most impactful to my success in the atmospheric sciences thus far, as SOARS understands what it means to be a diverse individual in the sciences and equips Proteges with skills and access that traditional learning environments simply do not. Currently, as a research fellow, I guide my own research and have benefited from a wide network and from the years of coding experience (and debugging!) that I gained in undergrad. It has made a significant difference in my ability to progress research while still completing graduate coursework.

What opportunities did you pursue that you knew would be beneficial to securing a job in the profession?

I have pursued internships or lab practicums at NCAR, NASA, and at Brookhaven National Laboratory. In undergrad, I also made sure to apply to several tiers of REU programs, in order to boost my ability to gain additional research experience outside of my university. Finally, as a person who was paying all of my tuition out-of-pocket while working multiple jobs, I also pursued every scholarship and fellowship that I could apply to. Being an adult learner, it has also been quite beneficial to me to prioritize volunteering, speaking, and offering workshops whenever I can. Not only is conference and presentation experience invaluable to someone who wants to pursue research, but interacting professionally helped me to continue to find and build peer groups that inspire me. Finally, using my life experience to directly support LGBTQIA+ people in STEM and to advocate for inclusive environments means that fewer diverse learners in the future will face the same barriers to STEM entry that I did.

What other courses/skills beyond the required math and science courses do you think would be the most helpful to individuals wanting a career in your profession?

Honestly, your traditional STEM education is well informed on the basics that you need for your profession. I would say that if you don't have coding or field / lab experience, make sure that you get that. Even if you do not directly apply those skills in your work, the logic and processes that you gain from those experiences will broaden your perspective in helpful ways. Where I would recommend putting the most emphasis on skill building is in the areas that are not served by traditional STEM educations. (1) Inclusion: Center people who are underserved. Gain insight, awareness, and perspective. Move aside and make space when appropriate. (2) Tell a story when you write your research and write accessibly, to the broadest audience. (3) Find mentors who are not like you and learn to be a mentor to people who think differently than you. (4) Gain budgeting and project management skills. Learn to write a well-informed proposal that is inclusive of the number of people, hours, materials, and finances that you will need.

What is your typical day on the job like?

As a non-traditional person getting my PhD, working as a research fellow, and also consulting, I never have a 'typical day'. I am still completing coursework. I spend at least 5 hours per day coding. I read articles, practice my own writing, and listen to research presentations. I spend time with mentors, brainstorming research. Because my work is computational and can be done virtually, I pay attention to my needs and adjust accordingly. Sometimes that means that I work solidly during daytime hours and 'reset' in the evening. Other days, I will work for a few hours, take a break to reset with my wife and/or dogs, then repeat a few times (working more in the evenings). Time management is my superpower!

What do you like most about your job? What is the most challenging thing about your job?

What I most love is getting lost in solving complicated puzzles and teaching myself more efficient ways of computing. Seeing the results or getting a script to work after working on it (for too long!) is always deeply satisfying. When I think of the seven years ago me, I did not even have high school transcripts when I decided to begin taking community college classes. I see me today, and I am proud and grateful for all I have gained.

What is most challenging is the lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the sciences. I face unnecessary barriers regularly. This impedes my learning process and lengthens the time it takes me to do things in academic settings. On the broader scale, these barriers to entry also mean numerous people like myself will not access their dreams. That is simply devastating.

Does your job allow for a good work/life balance? If not, why?

I am responsible for my work/life balance. What that looks like will change day-to-day, or in seasons of my life. Any dream worth obtaining is worth putting the effort into. On the flip side of that coin, no job, or environment is worth killing your soul to prove that you can or should be there. You are equally worth investing in. If you find yourself consistently frustrated, putting your time into other things you enjoy, or wishing that xyz would come true for you, then reevaluate your values and priorities. Determine what is blocking you. Get the support that you need. Then, re-balance and repeat.

Over the course of your career what is the most exciting thing that has happened to you?

Opportunity after opportunity has been exciting for me, each in its own way and time. 18-year-old me was homeless and isolated. And yet, I managed to become a full time news videographer that year. I worked at stations and in locations all over the U.S. 27-year-old me became a business owner and learned the value of sharing vulnerability and creating space for individuals who traditionally did not find themselves represented or their needs met. 33-year-old me registered for community college while asking myself what I could do if I dreamed my dreams that included science. Now, 40 year old me is a research fellow powering my way through a PhD. Truly, no opportunity will be 'the one' for me, but I will always apply myself fully, be open to things I've never considered before, and take leaps into uncomfortable or unknown places. That is where I believe I am the most inspired and thus the most successful!

Is there anything you wish you had done differently in your career?

There are opportunities that I did not take, especially when I was younger, simply because of fear. I can't say that I feel regret or sorrow over those choices, as I still learned quite a lot and carry those lessons with me. That said, today I am intentional about living as boldly as I can at any given moment, remaining open, and humble enough to fail, asking questions, seeking help, or going back to the drawing board when necessary.

What are some ‘must haves’’ on a resume if a person wants to gain employment in your field?

I believe that ‘must haves’ on a resume are those things that demonstrate the following: your willingness to learn, your work ethic, your ability to apply yourself consistently, your core values, and your humanity. Many do not share this opinion, so hear me out! If you have been told to prioritize your GPA, please toss that notion. Any company that prioritizes grades over skill and demonstrable experience does not center its employees. Rather than focusing on a single number, communicate this: Day after day, you show up and do things you have never tried, while collaborating with humans from various walks of life. Take whatever pathway necessary so that your resume tells that story. Continue deepening the skills that will propel your dreams. When it comes to identity and core values, I am regularly advised against sharing on a resume, especially as a Trans person doing Queer and Trans advocacy. --Please, always support those people who for safety or necessity cannot disclose who they are-- However, it is you who will be coming to work every day, giving sometimes the best of yourself to your company and to your team(s). If your values are not represented, if you do not see yourself mirrored back within that company, then you will become frustrated and less empowered. Always remember that you are interviewing people at the same time that they are interviewing you. As often as possible, choose to work in places that value you and the things that you value.