- #1
Fungiwrangler
- 3
- 0
So I am a senior chemistry (BA) student at a large state university and will be graduating at the end of the spring.
I don't have steller grades (2.7 gpa) but this was because of my freshman/sophmore year. My transcript obviously has this divide where you can see where I started to take things seriously in my major classes (still a C or two but its Ochem c'mon).
I started in engineering and actually took a few extra engineering classes ontop of my chemistry curriculum that I didn't need but wanted to learn about (patent classes, machine shop training). I did the same thing with mycology to learn sterile technique, etc and did pretty well.
As far as job experience goes I ran a PC business in high school, worked IT in high school and early college, worked at a TV repair shop doing circuit repairs, worked for a science education company selling products at trade shows. Ontop of this I have been involved with many entrepreneurial pursuits which really gave me insight in how to run a business.
I am involved in chemistry research as well as a research project in the mycology dept, if need be I can get glowing recommendations from many professors whom I worked hands on with. I have been trusted enough to direct most of my own projects including designing and building a dielectric barrier discharge ozone generator, growing and analyzing medicinal fungi, developing screening techniques for high oil decomposing fungi with bioremediation applications. Outside of school I have built a highly efficient 1.5kW alkaline electrolysis cell to power a hydrogen torch, designed built and programmed a CNC machine from scratch and many other projects which were abandoned at various stages. On my own time I am currently working on developing low cost analytical devices for the hobbyist/educational market based on capillary zone electrophoresis using photometric and C4D (capacitively-coupled contactless conductivity detector) techniques.
As far as marketable skills go:
chemistry knowledge, lab technique, aseptic technique, very very good with my hands/building things, troubleshooting designing etching and soldering custom electronics, web design, programming (PHP,PERL), fluent in windows xp and most linux distros, designing and constructing high energy systems (high temperature/voltage), good with Autocad and can communicate fluently using engineering terms techniques and software, decently comfortable with 2 languages (Russian and German).
I am not attracted to most chemistry/lab tech jobs because I want something that's higher risk/reward and more dynamic. I want the opportunity to be able to get bonuses/commission/etc based on working at home, working smarter, etc. I just don't feel like working as a lab tech running tests will allow me these things. Don't want to work for academia or the government because I hate bureaucracy. The more I think about it the more I am drawn toward getting an MBA and just letting my technical knowledge carry me through the business world as business has the right kind of risky high speed payoff that I want.
My ideal job would be working at a cutting edge research and design lab that allowed you flexibility and fast mobility. I just think that my low grades may automatically disqualify me for these jobs. I am very sociable, can think on my feet and enjoy negotiations and dealing with people. I would have no problem having many people work under me and the stresses that would provide.
From what I have written what kinds of jobs could you guys suggest for me? I have strongly been drawn to getting into business MBA or going to EOD school (bomb diffusing) as my chemistry degree and technical background will get me a lot of swing.
I just don't feel very marketable to the types of companies I have talked to, but I know that there are people out there who will skip over all the 4.0 GPA's just to find someone who is hands on, confident and "street" smart like me.
I have no problem relocating, I am interested in Australia, and West Coast, US.
I don't have steller grades (2.7 gpa) but this was because of my freshman/sophmore year. My transcript obviously has this divide where you can see where I started to take things seriously in my major classes (still a C or two but its Ochem c'mon).
I started in engineering and actually took a few extra engineering classes ontop of my chemistry curriculum that I didn't need but wanted to learn about (patent classes, machine shop training). I did the same thing with mycology to learn sterile technique, etc and did pretty well.
As far as job experience goes I ran a PC business in high school, worked IT in high school and early college, worked at a TV repair shop doing circuit repairs, worked for a science education company selling products at trade shows. Ontop of this I have been involved with many entrepreneurial pursuits which really gave me insight in how to run a business.
I am involved in chemistry research as well as a research project in the mycology dept, if need be I can get glowing recommendations from many professors whom I worked hands on with. I have been trusted enough to direct most of my own projects including designing and building a dielectric barrier discharge ozone generator, growing and analyzing medicinal fungi, developing screening techniques for high oil decomposing fungi with bioremediation applications. Outside of school I have built a highly efficient 1.5kW alkaline electrolysis cell to power a hydrogen torch, designed built and programmed a CNC machine from scratch and many other projects which were abandoned at various stages. On my own time I am currently working on developing low cost analytical devices for the hobbyist/educational market based on capillary zone electrophoresis using photometric and C4D (capacitively-coupled contactless conductivity detector) techniques.
As far as marketable skills go:
chemistry knowledge, lab technique, aseptic technique, very very good with my hands/building things, troubleshooting designing etching and soldering custom electronics, web design, programming (PHP,PERL), fluent in windows xp and most linux distros, designing and constructing high energy systems (high temperature/voltage), good with Autocad and can communicate fluently using engineering terms techniques and software, decently comfortable with 2 languages (Russian and German).
I am not attracted to most chemistry/lab tech jobs because I want something that's higher risk/reward and more dynamic. I want the opportunity to be able to get bonuses/commission/etc based on working at home, working smarter, etc. I just don't feel like working as a lab tech running tests will allow me these things. Don't want to work for academia or the government because I hate bureaucracy. The more I think about it the more I am drawn toward getting an MBA and just letting my technical knowledge carry me through the business world as business has the right kind of risky high speed payoff that I want.
My ideal job would be working at a cutting edge research and design lab that allowed you flexibility and fast mobility. I just think that my low grades may automatically disqualify me for these jobs. I am very sociable, can think on my feet and enjoy negotiations and dealing with people. I would have no problem having many people work under me and the stresses that would provide.
From what I have written what kinds of jobs could you guys suggest for me? I have strongly been drawn to getting into business MBA or going to EOD school (bomb diffusing) as my chemistry degree and technical background will get me a lot of swing.
I just don't feel very marketable to the types of companies I have talked to, but I know that there are people out there who will skip over all the 4.0 GPA's just to find someone who is hands on, confident and "street" smart like me.
I have no problem relocating, I am interested in Australia, and West Coast, US.