Oceanography | Vol.31, No.2
Oceanography
Student News
https://tos.org/opportunities
Have you read the latest issue of
Oceanography Student News? Each news-
letter includes a regular column by the
student representative to the TOS Council,
profiles of TOS student members, infor-
mation about student activities related
to TOS-sponsored meetings, and links to
relevant student resources and articles in
Oceanography magazine. Feel free to for-
ward the links to the newsletters to other
students, or print out a copy and post it
on your department bulletin board. Any
questions? Email TOS Student Rep Stefanie
Mack at studentrep@tos.org.
Check Out Our Career Profiles Page!
https://tos.org/career-profiles
Do you have suggestions
on who to profile?
Please send their contact information
to ekappel@geo-prose.com.
Self-nominations are accepted.
In each issue, Oceanography magazine publishes
“career profiles” of marine scientists who have pur-
sued successful and fulfilling careers outside of aca-
demia. These profiles are intended to advise ocean
sciences graduate students about career
options other than teaching and/
or research in a university
setting. They also include
wisdom on how to go
about the job search.
We have over
50 profiles of ocean
scientists on our
web page.
Check them out!
Help TOS Fulfill Its Mission!
Recognizing excellence, disseminating knowledge,
promoting communication
The Oceanography Society welcomes financial contributions of any size to help
support the Society’s mission of disseminating knowledge of oceanography
and its application through research and education, promoting communication
among oceanographers, and providing a constituency for consensus-building
across all the disciplines of the field. Contributions are welcome in one or more of
the following areas:
• COSTARS: Career Opportunity/Student Travel and Research Support –
Supporting travel for graduate students to conferences and other institutions
and organizations
• Student Fund – Supporting programs such as the TOS Mentoring Program
• Early Career Fund – Supporting participation in career-enhancing activities
• TOS General Fund – Used for greatest needs, as recommended by the
TOS Council
To contribute go to https://tos.networkforgood.com
tos.org
Seen In Oceanography
MARINE MICROALGAE
Climate, Energy, and Food Security
from the Sea
By Charles H. Greene and others
» https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2016.91
From the Rep
Over the past month, I’ve
started thinking a lot about
my future career. I’m still in
academia (as a postdoc), but I wonder if I
can stay, if I want to stay, and if it’s finan-
cially feasible. Maybe you are pondering
this dilemma as well, or maybe you never
even considered the academic lifestyle.
Regardless, it is helpful to assess your skills,
interests, and career options even if you
aren’t actively looking for jobs.
I’ve been reading a series of books
about careers in science (I recommend Next
Gen PhD by Melanie Sinche), and they have
some common themes. One is to identify
the skills you already have. Consider that
skills every graduate student learns, such
as technical writing, communication, and
analytical thinking, are in high demand for
many fields, not just oceanography. The
next step is to consider your interests: what
do you spend your extracurricular and free
time doing? Why did you choose an ocean-
ography program? I realized I’m interested
in improving society, and it doesn’t need to
be ocean-related. A final step is to combine
skills, interests, and values to identify career
options. This is where a career counselor is
very helpful (and often free of charge if you
are still a student!). Once you identify your
options, find a mentor in that career.
After going through this self-assess-
ment, I feel better equipped to make deci-
sions about my career as they arise. Take
some time to think about it and visit the
TOS web page (https://tos.org/opportunities)
for more career resources.
— Stefanie
Send Us
Your Feedback!
Have questions or comments for the Student Rep?
Interested in being a highlighted student?
Want to share your best career tips and tricks?
We need your input!
» studentrep@tos.org and @mnemoniko
Follow Us
The Oceanography Society
@TOSOceanography
Student Resources
SECRETS TO THRIVING IN
GRADUATE SCHOOL
By Andrew D. Gaudet
» https://doi.org/10.1126/science.caredit.a1500019
Oceanography
Number 5 – October 17, 2017
Countdown to Ocean Sciences 2018
February 11–16 » Portland, OR, USA » osm.agu.org
OSM registration is now open! Register for the events below before they fill up.
» https://osm.agu.org/2018/registration
STUDENT & EARLY CAREER WORKSHOP. 8:30 am–4 pm, Sunday, February 11. Workshops on data
management, grant writing, and scientific communication. Coffee, lunch, and afternoon beverages
are included for all participants.
STUDENT MIXER. 6–8 pm, Monday, February 12. Refreshments provided.
MID-WEEK CAREER PANEL. 12:45–1:45 pm, Tuesday, February 13. Panel discussion on various career
options in the ocean sciences. Box lunch included.
SAVE THE DATE — TOS BREAKFAST. Tuesday, February 13, 7:00–8:00 am, Oregon Convention Center
(invitation and RSVP form coming from TOS in December).
Check here for updates » http://osm.agu.org/2018/students/student-early-career-scientist-events
osm.agu.org
Session Proposals System Now Open
Session Proposal Deadline
3 May 2017
Abstract Submissions Open
mid-Jul y 2017
Abstract Deadline
6 Sept 2017
11–16 February • Portland, Oregon, USA
News & Views
OUR OCEAN CONFERENCE. On October 5–6, 2017, the European Union hosted the fourth Our
Ocean conference in Malta. Explore the conference website to learn more about global commit-
ments toward sustaining a healthy ocean in six principal areas » https://ourocean2017.org
STUDENT NEWS
TOS Student Member Highlight
GUALTIERO SPIRO JAEGER. Shepherding is an under-appreciated task: always
challenging, rewarding when successful. Instead of jolly sheep on a Swiss meadow, I
guided research articles into a special issue of Oceanography.
Two years earlier, I began my PhD research in the MIT-WHOI Joint Program, working with Amala
Mahadevan as part of a collaboration investigating the northern Indian Ocean’s connection with
monsoon weather over Southeast Asia. Working on a research vessel together with an international
group of scientists and students from the United States, India, and Sri Lanka was an enriching expe-
rience. Later, as results emerged, I had the opportunity to assist the guest editors of the June 2016
special issue of Oceanography on the “Bay of Bengal: From Monsoons to Mixing” by managing the
article workflow from start to finish. As a student, I was in a unique position of facilitating communi-
cation between authors, guest editors who were also coauthors, reviewers, and the Oceanography
editor. To avoid conflicts of interests, I compartmentalized the assignment of anonymous peer
reviews, while recusing myself from the process for an article I coauthored. Producing from a collec-
tion of manuscripts the desired coherent and appealing structure also involved sourcing relevant
photographs from field experiments, soliciting graphics, and deciding the article order, in consulta-
tion with the different editors. The task required dedication and attention to details, while keeping
sight of the overall vision and meeting deadlines. Proud of the final product, I’m grateful for the
valuable experience gained managing the process, and I enjoyed working with the editorial team.
In Oceanography
CAREER PROFILES. Roughly
60 ocean scientists who have
pursued jobs outside of aca-
demia have contributed to
Oceanography’s Career Profiles
column. Read about their
career trajectories and sug-
gestions on how to go about
looking for jobs.
» https://tos.org/career-profiles
CALL FOR INPUT! Want to see more
profiles? Have other questions to ask?
Interested in different careers? Please
tell us what you think about this
column. » studentrep@tos.org
From the Rep
Welcome to the very first
TOS Student Newsletter!
Let me introduce myself. I
am Stefanie Mack, the TOS Council Student
Representative. I was elected to serve a
three-year term in 2016, and I provide
the Council with a student’s perspective
on current issues and Council decisions. I
recently received my PhD in oceanography
from Old Dominion University, and started
a postdoc at the University of Washington.
This is an exciting time to be the stu-
dent rep, as TOS is focusing on what it
can do for student members. Perhaps you
noticed that student membership is now
free! Or that we are in the testing phase of
a new mentorship program, designed to
help students explore career options out-
side of academia. There are more student-
centric ideas in the pipeline, including
some specifically for the next Ocean
Sciences Meeting.
I want to make TOS a great organization
that supports students. So, let me know.
What do you want out of your member-
ship? What information or opportunities
are you missing? Have any brilliant ideas
about ways to make graduate school life
better? Check out the feedback box for
ways to get in touch.
– Stefanie
Meet Your TOS Student Subcommittee Member
NUNZIA PIRRO. I always liked challenges: they make life less boring and more
exciting. My intellectual curiosity and passion for learning weren’t satiated after com-
pleting a Master’s degree in structural engineering. For this reason, I started my PhD
in physical oceanography while on a boat in the Indian Ocean. It was a great opportunity, a unique
experience, and a different way to start my studies. My home institution, the University of Notre
Dame (Indiana), is actively involved in field campaigns in the northern Indian Ocean with the goal
to understand air-sea interaction in the Bay of Bengal.
Being a TOS subcommittee student member is a bigger and newer challenge for me. My aim is to
serve the TOS student community positively, by both improving our education in ocean science and
giving voice to students’ opinions, advice, and concerns. I will use the skills set and competencies
I have acquired in past years while serving in the Engineering Student Association to help grow
ocean science community awareness and impact within the university setting. I wish to create a
challenging and fruitful environment for students.
Send Us Your Feedback!
Have questions or comments for the Student Rep?
Interested in being a highlighted student?
Want to share your best career tips and tricks?
We need your input!
» studentrep@tos.org and @mnemoniko
Follow Us
The Oceanography Society
@TOSOceanography
Career Tips
A CV IS NOT A RESUME, EXCEPT WHEN
IT IS! Definitions and expectations for
CVs and resumes vary by job type and by
country. Make sure you have the correct
document in the correct format for your
next job application.
KNOW WHEN YOU WANT TO GRADUATE?
Try creating a timeline by working back-
ward from that date. Figure out approxi-
mate times for important events such as
exams and your thesis defense. Remember
to leave extra time for responses from com-
mittee members. You never know when
someone will be in the field or on vacation.
Countdown to Ocean Sciences 2018
February 11–16 » Portland, OR, USA » osm.agu.org
Join us at the 2018 Ocean Sciences Meeting. Explore a broad array of marine science topics
and broaden your connections within the oceanography community. More student activities are in
the works, including a Student and Early Career Conference on Sunday, February 11. Keep your eyes
on this section for information!
ABSTRACTS. Submissions open mid-July 2017; deadline September 6, 2017
FUNDING. Student and early career attendees will be eligible to apply for limited travel support
to the Ocean Sciences Meeting. Be sure to also check with your department or institution to see if
scholarships are available to fund student conference travel.
Student Resources
INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN. An IDP helps you explore career possibilities and set goals to
follow the career path that fits you best. » https://myidp.sciencecareers.org
TOS RESOURCES PAGE. Find job and fellowship links, shiptime opportunities, and helpful articles
and websites. » https://tos.org/opportunities
Oceanography
Number 1 – June 15, 2017
osm.agu.org
Session Proposals System Now Open
Session Proposal Deadline
3 May 2017
Abstract Submissions Open
mid-Jul y 2017
Abstract Deadline
6 Sept 2017
11–16 February • Portland, Oregon, USA
News & Views
HOW EFFICIENT ARE YOU? Find tips for
managing your time so that you can
lead more of a life outside of the lab.
» https://www.nature.com/naturejobs/
science/articles/10.1038/nj7656-175a
STUDENT NEWS
Seen In Oceanography
MANAGING LEVIATHAN:
Conservation Challenges for the
Great Whales in a Post-Whaling World
By Phillip J. Clapham
» https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2016.70
Seen In Oceanography
MANAGING LEVIATHAN:
Conservation Challenges for the
Great Whales in a Post-Whaling World
By Phillip J. Clapham
» https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2016.70
From the Rep
If you haven’t been able to
tell from the past several
issues of this newsletter, I’ve
been spending a good bit of time thinking
about my professional future. There is a
lot more to figuring out your career path
than tidying up your CV and job searching.
While mentoring can help you succeed in
your chosen role, and self-assessment can
help you decide what that role is, network-
ing is where the opportunities are.
It sounds a bit intimidating at first. I
picture myself awkwardly approaching an
Important Person, stumbling over my ele-
vator speech, and leaving them, minutes
later, with nothing but a bad impression.
Erase this sort of imagery from your mind.
Networking is just getting to know people.
No agenda, no pressure. It’s not introducing
yourself to Important Person so they know
who you are, realize you are awesome, and
subsequently offer you a permanent, high
paying job. Instead, it’s recognizing that
Important Person does interesting work,
and commenting on or asking a question
about that work, preferably after being
introduced by someone who knows you
both. Easy peasy. Just a simple conversation
about cool science (or any other common
ground, really). And repeat. After a while,
you’ll have a whole list of people you know.
This is your network. Then it’s quite easy
to send a quick email to Important Person
Friend saying that you started looking for
jobs in a certain field and do they have
any suggestions? The Resources section
links to more information on networking.
Brush up and get ready to network at the
Ocean Sciences Meeting!
— Stefanie
Send Us Your Feedback!
Have questions or comments for the Student Rep?
Interested in being a highlighted student?
Want to share your best career tips and tricks?
We need your input!
» studentrep@tos.org and @mnemoniko
Follow Us
The Oceanography Society
@TOSOceanography
Student Resources
WHY YOU SHOULD NETWORK:
Seven Myths Dispelled
Grad Logic Blog
» http://gradlogic.org/why-network
Oceanography
Number 6 – November 15, 2017
Countdown to Ocean Sciences 2018
February 11–16 » Portland, OR, USA » osm.agu.org
OSM registration and housing are now open! Register by early January to obtain discounted rates.
REGISTRATION » https://osm.agu.org/2018/registration | HOUSING » https://osm.agu.org/2018/housing
• STUDENT MIXER. 6–8 pm, Monday, Feb 12, Oregon Convention Center (refreshments provided).
• SAVE THE DATE—TOS BREAKFAST. 7–8 am, Tuesday, Feb 13, Oregon Convention Center (invita-
tion and RSVP form coming from TOS in December).
• K–12 MENTORS NEEDED. Wednesday, Feb 14. Help mentor students at OSM K–12 Day. Includes
student-mentor luncheon (box lunch provided). Interested? Contact abstracts@agu.org.
• FLUID OCEANS PECHA KUCHA. 8–10 pm, Wednesday, Feb 14, at the Spirit of 77 bar right by the
Convention Center. » https://osm.agu.org/2018/meeting-wide-events-2
• POP-UP TALKS. Wednesday and Thursday, Feb 14 & 15. An interdisciplinary session for five- minute
student presentations. More information and an application form will be available later this
week at: » https://osm.agu.org/2018/students/pop-up-talks
Check here for updates » https://osm.agu.org/2018/student-and-early-career-events
osm.agu.org
Session Proposals System Now Open
Session Proposal Deadline
3 May 2017
Abstract Submissions Open
mid-Jul y 2017
Abstract Deadline
6 Sept 2017
11–16 February • Portland, Oregon, USA
News & Views
UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE. At the time we are putting together this newsletter, COP 23 is
convening in Bonn, Germany. COP 23 is the next step governments need to take toward implement-
ing the Paris Climate Change Agreement. » http://unfccc.int/meetings/bonn_nov_2017/meeting/10084.php
STUDENT NEWS
TOS Student Member Highlight
HILLARY SCANNELL. The Graduate Climate Conference (GCC) is a three-day
meeting convened annually for graduate students in climate-related fields to share
their research with other students from universities across the country who work
on similar problems. What makes the GCC so unique is that it is entirely run by graduate students,
for graduate students. The responsibility of organizing and hosting this event typically alternates
between the University of Washington and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
I first attended the GCC in 2014 as a master’s student from the University of Maine, and again in
2016 as the GCC co-chair and PhD student from the University of Washington. Being involved as
both an attendee and organizing committee member has been an enriching networking experi-
ence and has taught me valuable collaboration and organization skills. A committee of 16 graduate
students from the University of Washington started organizing the conference a year in advance
and formed smaller subcommittees to address fundraising, communications, logistics, and adver-
tising. My role as the GCC co-Chair was to oversee the subcommittees to make sure all components
came together smoothly and to help moderate the conference the day of the event.
The GCC is now going into its 11th year and was convened in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, from
November 10–12, 2017. Getting involved is a great way to make connections during graduate
school and “teach” your research to other students. We all have something to learn from each other.
More information on GCC 2017 is available at http://gradclimateconf.mit.edu.