Kyle Hanson says his Carleton PhD in Biology (2009) provided him with the skills he needed to get a job with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“I think that the research experience that I gained at Carleton gave me the right skillset to be competitive for my current position,” says Hanson. “It provided me with the technical expertise to design and conduct research as well as the necessary skills in personnel management, grant writing, and publishing of results in peer reviewed journals.”
Today, as the Fish Physiologist at Abernathy Fish Technology Center in Longview, WA., he manages a laboratory that conducts applied research focused on identifying changes within fish populations, determining how fish physiologically respond to environmental conditions and human activities while developing remote monitoring devices to measure fish movements.
“Currently we focus on developing alternative aquaculture techniques for salmon and lamprey, modeling the vulnerability of watersheds and aquaculture facilities to climate change, and investigating the interactions between hatchery and wild fish in the Columbia River Basin,” explains Hanson.
A typical week can involve time spent in a creek collecting and sampling fish as well as time in the lab analyzing biochemical parameters from those samples.
Previously, he had worked for a state conservation agency as a biological technician. “While I enjoyed the field work, I always wanted the freedom to explore research questions that interested me so I pursued a PhD to gain the necessary skills and experience to become a principal investigator.”
Hanson says he chose Carleton because of the strong research program in Fish Ecology and Physiology run by Dr. Steven Cooke.
“Dr. Cooke, my thesis advisor, provided access to research opportunities around the globe as well as the chance to present my results at a number of scientific meetings,” says Hanson. “This mentorship was instrumental in helping me develop as a researcher and gave me the experience and contacts needed to start my career off well.”
Hanson’s research focused on the physiological aspects of why some fish are good at raising offspring and other fish were not.
Hanson says his best career tip to current PhD students is to network early and often. “Your peers and colleagues can provide you with the connections to find that first job. Also, try to best to distinguish yourself from other job seekers. It is a very competitive job market, and novel skill sets and accolades can definitely help grab the attention of hiring committees.”
You can read other stories in this series by going to our Alumni Success Story archive.
Friday, October 4, 2013 in News, Research
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