What I Want From A Grad Program
Ideal Position:
I would love to get into a program that could offer me a Research Assistantship (RA) or Teaching Assistantship (TA). I would prefer to be in an RA position.
Ideal Atmosphere:
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I want to be a part of a strong team of researchers and academics.
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I would like to be involved in interdisciplinary projects that combine some mix of these disciplines: geology, paleontology, paleoanthropology, ecology, geography, etc.
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I want to be pushed and receive guidance that will help me to become a better scientist.
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Community of collaboration
Possible Areas of Study:
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Stratigraphy / Biostratigraphy
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Sedimentology / Paleopedology
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Terrestrial Paleoenvironmental & Ecological Reconstruction
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Geochronology
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Paleoanthropology / Human Origins
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Vertebrate Paleontology
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Speciation & Divergence
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Paleobiogeography
Primary Research Interests:
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Interdisciplinary study of terrestrial paleoenvironments & ecological settings relating to paleoanthropology and human origins
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Terrestrial sedimentary geology and paleontology, Mesozoic through recent
Goals
Shorter-Term
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Obtain an RA or TA position (PhD program preferred)
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Strengthen my research design skills
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Learn new techniques & and methodologies
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Gain more grant & manuscript writing experience
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Earn a doctorate degree in geology, paleontology or other related discipline
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Publish on my current research (hopefully in the next year)
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Improve my networking skills
Longer-Term
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Become a professor and career academic or find a position in a museum or within government
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Become a proficient and successful grant writer
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Organize field excursions
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Build or add to an interdisciplinary network of researchers
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Study hominin evolution and paleoenvironments (~8 myr - recent)
"Do what you love and you will never work a day in your life"*