Nicole
How do I get my foot in the door for Mycology field reasearch?
My ultimate goal is to be a field researcher and work in a lab as well. I am looking to get my graduate in Mycology. I'd like to be ahead of the game, or at least have a goal in mind. Where do I start looking for these types of jobs?
#mycology #job-search #field-work
1 answer
Ian Sarad
Ian’s Answer
Mycology is a lot wider of a field than you may be thinking so there is quite a bit of research to do. There is a pretty good program at the Univeristy of Washington, but plenty of professors around the US are doing at least some mycological research. There are not a lot of universities that have mycology programs so look at their applied microbiology departments.
Most mycology research is in filamentous fungi or fungal pathogens which means there's unfortunately not a lot of field work. If you are more interested in mushrooms (I was before grad school) it is a bit of a transition.
Dr Chris Cornelison at Kennesaw State University (in Kennesaw, Georgia) is one of the rising stars in the field, so looking at his work is a good place to start. He worked for several years to combat white nose syndrome in bats.
Mycology is fascinating, and complicated, and really beautiful in its own way, but people not in the field don't tend to think so, so get used to being an outcast. Until you find your people, it'll feel like you're the only one out there.