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What careers in STEM will allow me to travel?

I'm an incoming college freshman pursuing a bachelor's in biotechnology and planning to enter the field of sustainable energy. While I am very comfortable with this plan, I would also like to travel the world, and travel often. Are there any careers in the STEM field that can open opportunities for me to travel? Any advice would be much appreciated, thank you! #energy #oil-and-energy #environmental-services #environmental-science #sustainability #stem

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Victoria’s Answer

Hi Dianne,


This is such a wonderful question! Yes, there are many opportunities to travel, consult, teach, volunteer, and work all over the world. Check out the link below to see all the different STEM careers that are

in demand, average salaries, and unemployment percentages.


https://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/best-stem-jobs


One thing you will want to check is whether your career requires special certifications or licenses to work in a specific location. [A doctor has to be licensed to practice medicine in a certain location or a CPA has to be licensed to provide accounting services in a specific area or performing a specific function]. But many STEM jobs/careers are more flexible and experts from around the world work together to solve problems and develop new technologies.


I have found that the great thing about STEM is that you have the opportunity to work with professionals from all over the world. You might work for a US company overseas on a temporary or permanent assignment; you might teach or conduct research that requires travel; you might work as a consultant on an international project. I have had the chance to work, consult, and teach overseas. It is a great way to learn more about your field, meet lifetime friends and colleagues, and share your STEM skills!


Different jobs require different amounts of travel, connectivity, and fieldwork. With STEM you will have so many options throughout your career. Energy is a great example of an industry that can require travel but can also require work in one location like a lab.


As a student you will have opportunities to work on projects and internships, which can get you started. There are also cooperative education opportunities through companies/firms to go to school and work. Since computing and communications are getting better all the time, you can work from almost any place in the world. In the next 10 – 20 years, you will also have the chance to work off planet – that is pretty exciting.


If you are interested in energy check out this link:


http://corporate.exxonmobil.com/en/community/math-and-science/other-math-and-science-programs/overview


Also consider joining Society of Women Engineers (at the end of the article)

Victoria recommends the following next steps:

Keep a journal or bookmark projects, places, careers that interest you.
Join a professional organization like SWE or IEEE to meet mentors and network
Let your advisers/professors know you are interested in an international career and keep your eyes open for opportunities. Consider cooperative education, internships, and volunteer work but research opportunities very carefully and only work with universities/companies/programs with a solid track record.
Thank you comment icon A nice, comprehensive post of suggestions and information provided by Victoria! Fred N. Rubel, M.S., QEP
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Emily’s Answer

Working at Dow Chemical has provided me with opportunities to travel and visit other labs. Some of the positions here are more travel based than others. There are lots of different roles in this company and others that would meet this objective. There are many, many internship opportunities each year as well. Check out "Careers at Dow" for more information.

I suggest looking into community college programs for process technology / laboratory technology for a quick degree or certificate (to get your feet wet) or else engineering degrees for a more in depth degree. If you start out with a two year degree you can always re-direct later if you find your true passion and become more specific.

Emily recommends the following next steps:

Investigate process technology programs at community colleges
Investigate engineering programs near you
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