Aspiring Wildlife Biologist on the scene!

[snowgyre]

Hello all!

I've been a bit behind the times since I've been in grad school and had to sell off a significant chunk of my leopard geckos, so it took me a while to know this site even existed. If it wasn't for SnakeBytesTV on YouTube I never would've realized geckoforums.net was here, although it was finally Paul Allen of Bright Albino who finally tuned me into it (by the way Paul, that little eclipse girl you sold me at the last Lawrenceville show is doing great, and from her growth I think you're right that she came from your super giant).

I'm an impoverished graduate student (hehe) working for my PhD in forestry/wildlife. Reptiles and amphibians have always been a passion of mine, although I was converted to birds for my professional career (I'm such a traitor, I know!).

Anyways, great to finally be part of this fantastic community. I've been on a lot of forums over the years and this place looks really great so far. I look forward to chatting with all of you knowledgeable folks!

(P.S. A few of you may recognize my screen name from faunaclassifieds.com. I kinda vanished from there, but I think I like it here a bit better. ;-)

 

[whkrazyk]

welcome vanessa, look forward to chattin and learnig more about you, for a PhD in forestry/wildlife, is that an 8 year diploma, are you goin to the fish and game?

 

[snowgyre]

At this point I've got so much debt from my undergraduate years that when I graduate I'm going to have to say yes to the first people who say yes to me. I've been in school for... um... well, 4 years for my B.S., 2 years for my M.S., and now 3 for the PhD (of which only two are completed), so that will be a total of 9 years. Dang, now I feel old.

I really enjoy being the mediator between the scientific community and the public. It's frustrating sometimes because the two groups really don't speak the same language at all, but I think the rewards outweigh the cons in terms of any sort of wildlife or land management. I guess my dream job would be along that line. If US Fish and Wildlife has a job like that, then heck yeah, I'll take those benefits! Health insurance is happy.

 

[whkrazyk]

lol heck yea, these days government jobs is the way to go(if only they had government cooking jobs lol) 9 years dang thats a long time, but well worth it, and im sure you are doing something you love

 

[Mel&Keith]

Welcome to GeckoForums, Vanessa!

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Welcome, Vanessa! I remember you from that 'other' place... hehe.

 

[rawson5084]

Welcome

 

[cj.thomas21]

Welcome.

 

[THE WHISPERER]

Welcome to GF

 

[snowgyre]

Thanks everybody! Yep, I remember you too, Golden Gate Geckos! Glad to see a familiar face...er.... icon?

 

[Slager]

Always good to get some well educated people on here to learn from. I'm a poor college student myself, just trying to make it. Just working on my B.S. though. It's enough debt as far as I'm concerned though. Ha ha. Welcome!!!

 

[snared99]

Welcome! I also have a degree in wildlife and fisheries from PEnn State. It is only a B.S. and i had contemplated a higher degree, but unfortunetly there are just such a lack of jobs in the field that my bank account could not support the new degree...lol But good luck in everything!

 

[Snowy & Petra de Gecko]

Welcome

Welcome to GeckoForums.

There is a lot to learn and you should feel free to let us know what you know.

 

[snowgyre]

Oh man, do I know how that feels, Aaron. Just stick with it though, it'll be worth it in the end! What are you majoring in? I'm guessing you're in your senior year?

Snared99, your real name escapes me, but I know I've seen it somewhere (probably fauna). Yeah, it's hard finding jobs in our field, especially in the northeast. I lived at home in upstate NY with my folks for two years after my Masters, searching for work. I got so fed up with dead ends and good job interviews that never worked out that I decided to go back to grad school for my PhD. I told myself I was never going to get a doctorate, but I also told myself I'd never work with plants. Guess what? I'm working on loblolly pine plantations and looking at small mammals, birds, and PLANTS. Dangitall!

I have a feeling I'm entering the field at the right time though. I think that demand for good wildlife biologists will only increase, especially out West and in the Southeast. It kind of stinks because I'd love to get a job close to home, but ya gotta go where the work is.