Update 1 of 2 I plan for today
Apr. 13th, 2006 03:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hazliyaI'm making these public for a while - a test run, if you will.
So, I've found a path in bio now. Well, I think I have.
I've always loved working with animals, but felt that it was an impractical career path. Lately, though, the spark has reappeared stronger than ever and the impracticality of said stirrings has been disproved.
Point 1: I'm allergic to animals.
Disproved: Pyrobenzamine is inexpensive and still on the market. There's also been tests to show that it doesn't allow a tolerance to be built up, so I can use it for as long as needed and not have to up the dose. Furthermore, I'm only allergic to dander from long-haired animals. If I work with shorthaired animals or marine life, problem solved.
Point 2: It probably doesn't pay well.
Disproved: Someone told me today that they've never heard of a zoologist or animal caretaker having to take a second job. And rearing animals by hand is very lucrative, depending on the zoo or conservation society: hand-rearing a tiger cub for a year after its father tried to eat it yielded about ~$100k in one report, and a wolf cub for the same duration brought the person ~$75k. Also, research expeditions can pay very well, and animal husbandry skills are becoming more and more in demand as people with biology backgrounds are moving more toward the human race and away from wildlife.
Point 3: I can't just walk out into the wild and start taking care of critters. Experience is hard to come by.
Disproved: A friend of mine sent me a list last night of zoos and aquariums (not to mention refuges and educational centers) that offer paid summer internships in animal husbandry and research to undergrads. About 10 are in MA, so I could even stay here.
Point 4: There's not much demand for a zoologist/animal husbandry expert.
Disproved: When explaining my dilemma to a few people in the CC a few days ago, explaining how I wanted to either go into zoology and animal work or nerve and tissue reconstruction/nanotech. Someone delicately pointed out that every state, country, island, region has multiple parks, zoos, beaches, and reserves. About 1 in every 6 states has a nanotechnology lab, and there are probably a similarly limited number in other countries.
Oh. Hadn't thought of that. Good point.
And it turns out, one of the WPI professors is involved with one of the internships that I'm going for for next year. Score!
So, I'm feeling much better about the whole career path thing. I now have a direction to go in, something to focus on, and something much more specific to strive toward.
It makes me extremely happy, and more hopeful than I can remember being since I came to this damn school. It's a nice change.
-Haz
So, I've found a path in bio now. Well, I think I have.
I've always loved working with animals, but felt that it was an impractical career path. Lately, though, the spark has reappeared stronger than ever and the impracticality of said stirrings has been disproved.
Point 1: I'm allergic to animals.
Disproved: Pyrobenzamine is inexpensive and still on the market. There's also been tests to show that it doesn't allow a tolerance to be built up, so I can use it for as long as needed and not have to up the dose. Furthermore, I'm only allergic to dander from long-haired animals. If I work with shorthaired animals or marine life, problem solved.
Point 2: It probably doesn't pay well.
Disproved: Someone told me today that they've never heard of a zoologist or animal caretaker having to take a second job. And rearing animals by hand is very lucrative, depending on the zoo or conservation society: hand-rearing a tiger cub for a year after its father tried to eat it yielded about ~$100k in one report, and a wolf cub for the same duration brought the person ~$75k. Also, research expeditions can pay very well, and animal husbandry skills are becoming more and more in demand as people with biology backgrounds are moving more toward the human race and away from wildlife.
Point 3: I can't just walk out into the wild and start taking care of critters. Experience is hard to come by.
Disproved: A friend of mine sent me a list last night of zoos and aquariums (not to mention refuges and educational centers) that offer paid summer internships in animal husbandry and research to undergrads. About 10 are in MA, so I could even stay here.
Point 4: There's not much demand for a zoologist/animal husbandry expert.
Disproved: When explaining my dilemma to a few people in the CC a few days ago, explaining how I wanted to either go into zoology and animal work or nerve and tissue reconstruction/nanotech. Someone delicately pointed out that every state, country, island, region has multiple parks, zoos, beaches, and reserves. About 1 in every 6 states has a nanotechnology lab, and there are probably a similarly limited number in other countries.
Oh. Hadn't thought of that. Good point.
And it turns out, one of the WPI professors is involved with one of the internships that I'm going for for next year. Score!
So, I'm feeling much better about the whole career path thing. I now have a direction to go in, something to focus on, and something much more specific to strive toward.
It makes me extremely happy, and more hopeful than I can remember being since I came to this damn school. It's a nice change.
-Haz
