A TORTUOUS CAREER PATH THROUGH EARTH SCIENCE INFORMATICS, OR HOW DID I END UP WITH THE PERFECT JOB?

First, I’m not a computer person or even really a data person. I’m trained as an interdisciplinary scientist and through my career have gained an appreciation for the value of usable and shareable data to solve interesting and important questions. I have worked on these problems in a few different roles, both paid (NEON, The HDF Group, USGS) and as a volunteer (EarthCube Leadership Council, RDA, ESIP and Belmont Forum Working Groups). Along this path I have been open to opportunities that came along and have taken some risks. Some paid off more than others, but I learned something from all of them. This walk down memory lane will describe the many roles I have held on the path to my current position as Program Coordinator for the U.S. Geological Survey National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program, and what I have learned from them.