Adam Ford
I have no doubt that my dissertation was successful because of the many opportunities given to me by UBC Science including scholarships and awards at the departmental (Milsom Award), faculty (Dean's Award), and university (Governor General Gold Medal) level and recently, the TWM Cameron Award by the Canadian Society of Zoologists - I wanted to extend my heartfelt gratitude for the incredible support of my education.
What are your main responsibilities or activities in your current position?
I am a faculty member in the Department of Biology at UBC-Okanagan Campus. My job is to teach ecology and conduct research on wildlife.
How does your current work relate to your graduate degree?
The research I did for my PhD paved the way for my career as a faculty member.
What do you like and what do you find challenging about your current position?
I enjoy working with people.
Is your current career path as you originally intended?
It is even better than I had intended.
What motivated you to pursue graduate work at UBC?
The opportunity to work with world class faculty and to travel to different parts of the world to do my research.
What did you enjoy the most about your time as a graduate student at UBC?
Field work - collecting data and meeting the challenges of life in rural Africa.
What key things did you do, or what attitudes or approaches did you have, that contributed to your success?
I failed - often. I kept trying but I was not afraid to fail. It doesn't mean I liked it, or it didn't sting. I tried to learn why I failed and then move on.
What is your best piece of advice for current graduate students preparing for their future careers?
Follow what is interesting to you and opens the most doors for your next step. You don't need to decide what you want to be when you grow up right now, but seek opportunities that will empower you with choices in the future.
Did you have any breaks in your education?
I did - between BSc and my MSc, and between my MSc and PhD. My breaks were opportunities to travel and do research as a technician. Through this, I was able to participate in research and get published. This helped with scholarships later in my career.
How did you find out about/obtain your current position?
A friend told me.
How are jobs normally posted and filled in your organization or industry?
On the internet.