Real financial advice for real scientists
Do you want to have a positive impact on the world with your career? I do. But what the hell does that even mean? What’s the right way to do it? I am a wildlife biologist by training. I think many people in my profession—and others like it—are susceptible to wanting to have an…
I knew I wasn’t the only wildlife biology graduate having problems finding a job after I graduated with my master’s degree in 2014. Now, thanks to the power of the Google machine, I have enough data to confirm this. Last month I wrote an article detailing the problems of finding a job in…
Follow your passion. Choose a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not. These and other tidbits of wisdom are slapped on cards, posters, and Pinterest images around the world. They’re poured out…
One of my biggest financial struggles is overcoming a low salary. I was still earning $32k two years after getting my M.S. – I actually got paid more per hour while I was still in grad school! And I’ll be honest; now that I’m self-employed for the time being, it still isn’t much higher….
A stuffed capercaillie sits mounted high on the wall in my old wildlife classroom. It used to distract me all the time; I’d picture it coming alive and taking flight across the room in a flurry of feathers and bird poop. It would have been be quite the sight; capercaillies are halfway in size between…
I just lost my job. Or, rather, I didn’t get my job back that I was hopefully being re-hired for. It’s a bit confusing, but that’s the point of the story: jobs for young people just starting out in the career world are confusing and not secure. Last summer, I was hired on with the…
In my last post, I talked about one of my most embarrassing money decisions: using my student loan money from my undergrad degree for some not-so-scholarly purchases. I’m a bit in need of some redemption. I’ve already eaten too many pity-party tacos, so it’s time to focus on a good financial move. They’re few…
