Kevin Burns Lab
This year's career day, I shadowed Kevin Burns at SDSU. Overall, I enjoyed this opportunity, because I am really interested in Ornithology as a future career. I found the birds interesting, and learned that San Diego has more species of native birds than any other county in America! After going to this shadow, I am more interested in Ornithology than I was before. A masters degree is usually required for careers in Ornithology, and a PhD is required to be a professor or college academic. Currently, I'm not sure what internship I would want for Junior year.
Interview
What in your educational background most prepared you for this career?
I think math and statistics was really helpful, because a lot of my job is analyzing dat and finding trends.
What specific skill training helped you to prepare for this job?
You have to be really detailed when you take notes, so note taking I guess.
How do you interact with other people during your work?
Well I talk with the other professors here, and I talk with the students. Normally I'd have a few people in the lab, but school's out here.
To what extent do you find your work interesting and fulfilling and why?
I do, we've been doing some research to find the genetic backgrounds of different species of birds that's never been done before.
What are the most important rules or practices you have to follow in order to be considered a dedicated and responsible professional?
Well, with research, you have to publish all of your findings, even if they don't go how you wanted them to. You know, you can't just go making up data.
Is this a typical work day for you? If not, what is a typical work day?
I think so, normally, I'd have a few classes and there'd be some people in the lab doing some work, but it's about the same.
I think math and statistics was really helpful, because a lot of my job is analyzing dat and finding trends.
What specific skill training helped you to prepare for this job?
You have to be really detailed when you take notes, so note taking I guess.
How do you interact with other people during your work?
Well I talk with the other professors here, and I talk with the students. Normally I'd have a few people in the lab, but school's out here.
To what extent do you find your work interesting and fulfilling and why?
I do, we've been doing some research to find the genetic backgrounds of different species of birds that's never been done before.
What are the most important rules or practices you have to follow in order to be considered a dedicated and responsible professional?
Well, with research, you have to publish all of your findings, even if they don't go how you wanted them to. You know, you can't just go making up data.
Is this a typical work day for you? If not, what is a typical work day?
I think so, normally, I'd have a few classes and there'd be some people in the lab doing some work, but it's about the same.