Episode Highlights:

• Learn how to think like a consultant starting with the lingo (proactive vs. reactive)

• How changing your major six times can lead to career clarity, not chaos

• What really happens after academic burnout — and how to rebuild a fulfilling career

Timestamps:

0:28 - What is an Ecological & Sustainability Consultant?

1:36 - What does a typical day look like?

16:33 - What do you enjoy?

20:29 - What do you dislike?

23:29 - How does your career compare to your initial aspirations?

35:29 - What were your career milestones?

48:24 - What advice would you give an aspiring professional?

About Our Guest:

Aaron Stoler, Ph.D. is a Managing Scientist in the Ecological and Biological Sciences practice at Exponent, and is based in Philadelphia. With over 20 years of research experience, Dr. Stoler is an applied ecologist who integrates foundational ecological theory, traditional knowledge, and innovative technologies to deliver sustainable solutions across industry, government, and academia. His expertise spans biodiversity monitoring, restoration ecology, life cycle analysis, wetland and forest ecology, and multivariate analysis of complex experimental designs. Dr. Stoler holds a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Pittsburgh and is a Certified Senior Ecologist. He has previously worked as an associate professor at Stockton University (NJ), as a research scientist for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and as applied ecologist with ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences, Inc.

• Extended Interview - ⁠patreon.com/diverseroutes ⁠

Looking for career support?

• Check out ⁠Success in Science Career Coaching⁠

Episode Highlights:

• What it really takes to build a biotech startup from scratch

• Why your medical speciality isn’t as fixed as you think

• How to navigate your job search while employed

Timestamps:

Dr. Darrell Marshall

Original episode aired 2/8/2023 (Episode 16)

0:33 - What are you up to now since we last spoke?

6:01 - What drew you to this new opportunity?

9:41 - What does a typical day look like, and how does it compare to your previous role?

19:30 - What’s one lesson from this transition that could help others?

Dr. Anna Buck

Original episode aired 8/9/2022 (Episode 11)

23:44 - What are you up to now since we last spoke?

24:14 - What drew you to this new opportunity?

26:18 - What does a typical day look like, and how does it compare to your previous role?

30:11 - What’s one lesson from this transition that could help others?

Lauren Bretz

Original episode aired 5/10/2023 (Episode 18)

34:40 - What are you up to now since we last spoke?

35:34 - What drew you to this new opportunity?

40:34 - What does a typical day look like, and how does it compare to your previous role?

44:29 - What’s one lesson from this transition that could help others?

About Our Guests:

Dr. Darrell Marshall is CEO and founder of Total Analysis. He holds a PhD in Bioanalytical Chemistry, specializing in infectious diseases, ionization product development, and machine learning.

Dr. Anna Buck is a board-certified physician assistant, who has recently transitioned from primary care and orthopedic specialities to dermatology.

Lauren Bretz is a Data Scientist with 9+ years of industry experience and now leads her own team building client-facing algorithms and data-driven optimizations at Stitch Fix.

Prefer to watch your podcasts?

• Watch this episode on patreon.com/diverseroutes

Looking for career support?

• Check out ⁠Success in Science Career Coaching⁠
  

[SPECIAL SERIES] This episode is part of a special 3-part Career Coaching Series, where each coach at Success in Science shares their unique career journey in STEM. Guided by a set of thoughtful questions, the series explores pivotal moments like choosing a major, navigating graduate school, landing that first science job, and making bold career pivots. Along the way, you’ll hear candid reflections on identity, work-life balance, and the role coaching can play in opening new doors. If you connect with their story, they just might be the right career coach for you—scroll down for a link to our website where you can schedule a free 30-minute chat with them.

About Our Guest/Coach:

Dr. Reginald Hill is a cancer biologist, educator, and science communicator with more than two decades of experience advancing translational research and mentoring the next generation of scientists. He earned his Ph.D. in Genetics and Molecular Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his B.S. in Biology from Florida A&M University.

Reggie’s research has centered on how the tumor microenvironment and biophysical stresses drive cancer progression and treatment resistance, particularly in pancreatic cancer. He previously served as Director of Tumor Biology and Microenvironment at the Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine and as Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

• Video Interview - ⁠patreon.com/diverseroutes ⁠

Episode Highlights:

• How to negotiate multiple job offers and choose wisely

• Why you might be sabotaging your career decisions based on common misconceptions about working in industry

• Why networking matters long after you’ve landed your job

Timestamps:

Overview

0:24 Who are you professionally and personally?

1:43 What are the major milestones in your career journey?

Undergraduate

17:39 Why did you choose your major?

18:21 Most valuable course?

19:33 What did you do outside of classes?

Graduate School

22:14 Why grad school?

28:49 What was your biggest takeaway?

Career Journey

30:22 What was your first real science job?

37:33 What was the day-to-day like?

40:57 Why did you leave that job?

Coaching

49:39 What brought you to coaching?

52:37 What challenges do you most enjoy helping with?

56:00 Who do you most enjoy working with?

57:28 How would you describe your coaching style?

58:46 What difference has coaching made in your life?

Closing

1:01:33 If you could change one thing in your career, what would it be?

1:02:29 What do you wish you’d known sooner?

1:03:09 Most important piece of advice for listeners?

Looking for career support?

• Check out ⁠Success in Science Career Coaching⁠