What can I do/read in advance to be ready for my internship?:
Read about GIS, SPAWAR, what they do what the environmental branch is, understanding more what GIS is and why mapping is important to SPAWAR or for environmental research. Research particular links that I would send on how to go from here learning about these concepts. Spacial analysis, also what Kara does which is bio-chemical analysis. Also a bit about GPS,what it is and how it works together with GIS.
What should I know about you before I start working here?:
I'm probably going to be 15 minutes late everyday, I'm sarcastic, and I'm really glad that, and I don't know if other HTH students are like this, but I like people who aren't afraid to go explore. That you'll go out and look for the answers and do the work on your own. Sometimes employers want students to do a particular assignments, but I think it should be more open. Adaptable is another thing.
What is your job title?:
I am a scientist, it's a broad title, but that is the interesting thing at SPAWAR. That is the title of all the technical people you'll be working with. Sometimes the title is engineer, some people may have a specialty,but there's people whose specialties may change over time so if you like science that's pretty exciting.
What are your main duties and responsibilities?:
So part of what I do is I help scope or design science and technical projects and another part of my job is doing specific pieces of analysis on projects and providing technical support to other analysts to their projects.
Why did you choose to work here?:
I wanted to work in environmental but I'd worked in that before in San Diego but what was so fascinated to me was the depth and breadth of the technology here and the potential to connect it to environmental. I like technology and I like environment so finding that crossover is not that common. I wish I'd known about SPAWAR before, I knew people who worked at SPAWAR, but I only recently learned about it from a friend.
How did you end up doing the job that you do?:
I've only been here for a year and a half, so really with the particular project I'm interested right now is using unmanned aerial systems to find solutions to natural resources problem. So just like you did when you came in here somebody gave me the idea to expand my ideas through research. So a lot of what I do is finding where my talents and interests fit. And what's exciting is from the branch head and the division head is as I'm learning that they say you can do anything you want to here, so there's a lot of opportunities to expand on your interests.
What skills and training are necessary for your position?:
For a position as a scientist at SPAWAR just a strong background in science or engineering, remember when we were we were talking with John back at the robotics demo and there was this other guy James? He started as a biochemist went into bioengineering and now he's in IT. But I guess for the spacial analyst job and the environmentalist job it was important to have a background in environmental studies and environmental analysis.
How did you acquire these skills? Through school? On the job?:
I would have to say through school, to start, and not just school but graduate school too. Part of it was sort of like you do, as an undergraduate I learned about a kind of environmental science that I wanted to do so I made an independant study to learn GIS. But now I think there's more opportunities to tailor your learning to any particular interests you might have. But much of what we do is applied practice and not only here but at my previous jobs.
Do you consider a career in this area satisfying? In what ways?:
Yes, partly because it's really, a fancy way to say it is, intellectually challenging, a fun way to say it is problem solving. Challenging problems, but I really care about the outcome, I believe in environmental conservation. Not only that but helping make jobs for people like scientists easier by seeing how we can apply technology to improve problem solving.
Is there anything you wish you'd realized about the world of work when you were my age?:
I think I've always approached work the same way I approached school, my brother said "You won't like certain aspects of your work, that's why it's called work." But I think work should be fun, but maybe it's because I went to a school that developed that in me. I guess what I'd say is that I'd just encourage young people to enter the workforce with that kind of concept and it's a good concept to keep. They shouldn't get bogged down by the difficulties of work. And knowing about it, I mean you've worked before right? Even if you grew up working at home if you kinda come along doing that, I don't think the work world is that shocking.
What should I know about this organization before I start working here?:
So many of the things you've already experienced,I wonder if new students could adapt, the new generation is more adaptable. Somebody could come in tomorrow and repurpose this room. Being a government business there's a lot more change in assets, since they're shared across 4,500 people so there are many levels on deciding what you need, furniture, internet , those things change much more frequently than at a private company. So flexibility on how things work, just like you did! With getting the VLAN on your computer. Also security is much more important here than an internship elsewhere
What is a typical work day like?:
For me, if I'm in the office I try to, on a good work day, I get to focus several hours on an analysis problem or I get a big block of time to do technical writing in a project I'm working on. But half the day ends up being providing technical support, solving issues on projects you didn't know about so you have ad hoc problem solving also ad hoc administrative problem solving. Partly dealing with the way the system works because it's large and because security is so important.
How is this organization structured?:
By codes, and you know I'm just learning about this too, so we are in a technical code 70 so the whole organization is divided into technical and administratives code and competencies it's how they describe groups that provide different services, maybe you're an engineer working on radio or an engineer working with robots or a scientist working with environmental sciences so all those are different skills working on different competencies. All of them are seen as being integral to how the whole organization functions. We were taught in our training how we need HR as much as we need the scientists in order for it all to function.
What is the purpose of this organization?:
One of the missions one of the little tag lines is C4ISR, it's funny they say that so much but they don't define it, but really providing the technical and science support to the navy with a focus on C4ISR and one of the primary goal is information dominance. I've also heard that even though we don't think about it day to day much of what we do supports the warfighters and sometimes it's a lot of steps between what we do and the men and women in the field. We actually had a commander come and speak to us about that. That there are people whose lives are depending on our improvements on communication, improvements to access to information and different kinds of scientific analysis.
What does it take to be successful in this organization?:
The same as would be required from anyone doing a job in science and technology but I think it's very different from being say a researcher at a university, because you're part of this organization with lots of things going on. Sometimes your project takes a back seat to other parts of the organization, hence the whole flexible adaptable thing. You have to enjoy contributing to this team, even if it means doing certain tasks that weren't part of your job description. If you worked with a small company that only did two things that wouldn't be the case.
What other advice do you have about working here?:
One thing that I certainly found is because the structure is not a hierarchy and we don't have labels on on our doors it's that if you have questions be proactive and learn who people are and what people do because there's a lot of people who've been here a long time. Learn how to do their task and get work done, if it were a small company you'd have small focused meeting and everyone would know the goals but here it's really diverse but if you get the opportunity to learn more then take that opportunity because you might not get that opportunity just sitting at our desk doing your project.
How important is getting along with other people in your career?:
Very important, and I think more important in government employment. You can get away with being more isolated in an academic setting, but here you have to interact with people a lot more, a lot of different people.
What other personality traits, skills, or knowledge are important here?:
Being inquisitive, just because think it makes adapting to diversity in people and skills and tasks easier. And also having respect for not just other fields of research but all of the different roles people play in this organization. I remember some of the people in unmanned systems, a couple of people used to say "We didn't want any PHDs over here because they're such snobs." You've gotta work with a lot of different smart people with different ideas on problem solving than you. But here you learn a lot of respect for all different aspects of this job.
What questions did I not ask that I should have?:
If I were coming in I'd want to know something about who I'd be working with or in particular, so much of what we do is computer oriented so what you might want to ask is what software do I need to know or how will I do my work? But also will I have certain tasks or will I get to develop my own project?
Read about GIS, SPAWAR, what they do what the environmental branch is, understanding more what GIS is and why mapping is important to SPAWAR or for environmental research. Research particular links that I would send on how to go from here learning about these concepts. Spacial analysis, also what Kara does which is bio-chemical analysis. Also a bit about GPS,what it is and how it works together with GIS.
What should I know about you before I start working here?:
I'm probably going to be 15 minutes late everyday, I'm sarcastic, and I'm really glad that, and I don't know if other HTH students are like this, but I like people who aren't afraid to go explore. That you'll go out and look for the answers and do the work on your own. Sometimes employers want students to do a particular assignments, but I think it should be more open. Adaptable is another thing.
What is your job title?:
I am a scientist, it's a broad title, but that is the interesting thing at SPAWAR. That is the title of all the technical people you'll be working with. Sometimes the title is engineer, some people may have a specialty,but there's people whose specialties may change over time so if you like science that's pretty exciting.
What are your main duties and responsibilities?:
So part of what I do is I help scope or design science and technical projects and another part of my job is doing specific pieces of analysis on projects and providing technical support to other analysts to their projects.
Why did you choose to work here?:
I wanted to work in environmental but I'd worked in that before in San Diego but what was so fascinated to me was the depth and breadth of the technology here and the potential to connect it to environmental. I like technology and I like environment so finding that crossover is not that common. I wish I'd known about SPAWAR before, I knew people who worked at SPAWAR, but I only recently learned about it from a friend.
How did you end up doing the job that you do?:
I've only been here for a year and a half, so really with the particular project I'm interested right now is using unmanned aerial systems to find solutions to natural resources problem. So just like you did when you came in here somebody gave me the idea to expand my ideas through research. So a lot of what I do is finding where my talents and interests fit. And what's exciting is from the branch head and the division head is as I'm learning that they say you can do anything you want to here, so there's a lot of opportunities to expand on your interests.
What skills and training are necessary for your position?:
For a position as a scientist at SPAWAR just a strong background in science or engineering, remember when we were we were talking with John back at the robotics demo and there was this other guy James? He started as a biochemist went into bioengineering and now he's in IT. But I guess for the spacial analyst job and the environmentalist job it was important to have a background in environmental studies and environmental analysis.
How did you acquire these skills? Through school? On the job?:
I would have to say through school, to start, and not just school but graduate school too. Part of it was sort of like you do, as an undergraduate I learned about a kind of environmental science that I wanted to do so I made an independant study to learn GIS. But now I think there's more opportunities to tailor your learning to any particular interests you might have. But much of what we do is applied practice and not only here but at my previous jobs.
Do you consider a career in this area satisfying? In what ways?:
Yes, partly because it's really, a fancy way to say it is, intellectually challenging, a fun way to say it is problem solving. Challenging problems, but I really care about the outcome, I believe in environmental conservation. Not only that but helping make jobs for people like scientists easier by seeing how we can apply technology to improve problem solving.
Is there anything you wish you'd realized about the world of work when you were my age?:
I think I've always approached work the same way I approached school, my brother said "You won't like certain aspects of your work, that's why it's called work." But I think work should be fun, but maybe it's because I went to a school that developed that in me. I guess what I'd say is that I'd just encourage young people to enter the workforce with that kind of concept and it's a good concept to keep. They shouldn't get bogged down by the difficulties of work. And knowing about it, I mean you've worked before right? Even if you grew up working at home if you kinda come along doing that, I don't think the work world is that shocking.
What should I know about this organization before I start working here?:
So many of the things you've already experienced,I wonder if new students could adapt, the new generation is more adaptable. Somebody could come in tomorrow and repurpose this room. Being a government business there's a lot more change in assets, since they're shared across 4,500 people so there are many levels on deciding what you need, furniture, internet , those things change much more frequently than at a private company. So flexibility on how things work, just like you did! With getting the VLAN on your computer. Also security is much more important here than an internship elsewhere
What is a typical work day like?:
For me, if I'm in the office I try to, on a good work day, I get to focus several hours on an analysis problem or I get a big block of time to do technical writing in a project I'm working on. But half the day ends up being providing technical support, solving issues on projects you didn't know about so you have ad hoc problem solving also ad hoc administrative problem solving. Partly dealing with the way the system works because it's large and because security is so important.
How is this organization structured?:
By codes, and you know I'm just learning about this too, so we are in a technical code 70 so the whole organization is divided into technical and administratives code and competencies it's how they describe groups that provide different services, maybe you're an engineer working on radio or an engineer working with robots or a scientist working with environmental sciences so all those are different skills working on different competencies. All of them are seen as being integral to how the whole organization functions. We were taught in our training how we need HR as much as we need the scientists in order for it all to function.
What is the purpose of this organization?:
One of the missions one of the little tag lines is C4ISR, it's funny they say that so much but they don't define it, but really providing the technical and science support to the navy with a focus on C4ISR and one of the primary goal is information dominance. I've also heard that even though we don't think about it day to day much of what we do supports the warfighters and sometimes it's a lot of steps between what we do and the men and women in the field. We actually had a commander come and speak to us about that. That there are people whose lives are depending on our improvements on communication, improvements to access to information and different kinds of scientific analysis.
What does it take to be successful in this organization?:
The same as would be required from anyone doing a job in science and technology but I think it's very different from being say a researcher at a university, because you're part of this organization with lots of things going on. Sometimes your project takes a back seat to other parts of the organization, hence the whole flexible adaptable thing. You have to enjoy contributing to this team, even if it means doing certain tasks that weren't part of your job description. If you worked with a small company that only did two things that wouldn't be the case.
What other advice do you have about working here?:
One thing that I certainly found is because the structure is not a hierarchy and we don't have labels on on our doors it's that if you have questions be proactive and learn who people are and what people do because there's a lot of people who've been here a long time. Learn how to do their task and get work done, if it were a small company you'd have small focused meeting and everyone would know the goals but here it's really diverse but if you get the opportunity to learn more then take that opportunity because you might not get that opportunity just sitting at our desk doing your project.
How important is getting along with other people in your career?:
Very important, and I think more important in government employment. You can get away with being more isolated in an academic setting, but here you have to interact with people a lot more, a lot of different people.
What other personality traits, skills, or knowledge are important here?:
Being inquisitive, just because think it makes adapting to diversity in people and skills and tasks easier. And also having respect for not just other fields of research but all of the different roles people play in this organization. I remember some of the people in unmanned systems, a couple of people used to say "We didn't want any PHDs over here because they're such snobs." You've gotta work with a lot of different smart people with different ideas on problem solving than you. But here you learn a lot of respect for all different aspects of this job.
What questions did I not ask that I should have?:
If I were coming in I'd want to know something about who I'd be working with or in particular, so much of what we do is computer oriented so what you might want to ask is what software do I need to know or how will I do my work? But also will I have certain tasks or will I get to develop my own project?