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Research and Technical Editor

Using Your PhD Wisely

Responses from Maeve Boland

How did you get interested?

My first encounter with geology was as at high school when a graduate student took a group of us out to see the rocks she was mapping near the school. I intended to study geography in the university but after two years of geology courses I decided to major in geology, partly because I enjoyed it and partly because I got my best grades in geology. I chose geology out of pragmatism and interest, certainly not with a vision of the career I might have.

What types of jobs have you held?

All sorts!

Mineral exploration with Aquitaine Mining (Ireland) Ltd., exploring for Cu, Pb, Zn in Ireland. Analyzing and compiling oil and gas data from western Europe for Petroconsultants Ltd. Industrial minerals geology and development, compiling and organizing databases, liaison with the public and industry for the Geological Survey of Ireland. Data research and editing at the American Geological Institute. Technical editing for the Society of Economic Geologists. And now I'm back to being a student again, this time studying a combination of the geosciences and public policy.

What started you down your current career path?

As with all my career moves, a mixture of conscious choice and serendipity. I have always been interested in public policy, particularly after working on policy issues with the Geological Survey of Ireland and seeing the U.S. system in action in Washington, D.C. I also have enough idealism to think that the geosciences are important for the public good. As a trailing spouse I am now in Golden, Colorado, (my husband, Murray Hitzman, teaches economic geology at Colorado School of Mines) at a time when CSM is developing its expertise in public policy. Several factors and people came together at the right time and in the right place to allow me to design a somewhat idiosyncratic course of study. Another reason I chose to be a student is because I do not want to be tied to a full-time job at present, the flexibility that comes with being a student suits my needs.

What are the positives and negatives of your job?

I think we all know the negatives of being a student, mainly having no money and the stress of exams, etc. On the positive side, I am exploring all sorts of interesting subjects and I can draw on all my experiences in geology and public policy.

What information would you give to someone just starting in your area of interest? Have fun and don't try to over-manage your career. In my experience, the best-laid plans in geology don't work, but you very definitely can position yourself so that you are well placed to take advantage of any opportunities that come along. Take courses in what interests you, both geological and non-geological. Get to know lots of people — networking really does work. Be flexible. Don't rule out any sector of the geosciences — you know far more than you think you know and you learn even more by tackling something new. And definitely get rid of any notion that the only "proper" career path is academia, there is a whole world out there that is full of excitement and opportunity.

Go for it!