Career Path of a Biology Project Manager at HELIX Environmental
Katie's career path began with a senior project involving "small mammal trapping and surveys," leading to a seasonal job at Oceano State Dunes. This experience, followed by a receptionist role at an environmental firm that transitioned into a biologist position, ultimately culminated in Katie's current role as a Biology Project Manager at Helix Environmental, where they transitioned from fieldwork to project management.
Career Development, Project Management, Environmental Science, Biology, Job Search
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Katie Duffield
Biology Project Manager
HELIX Environmental Planning, Inc.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Biology & Related Sciences
Consulting & Related Professional Services
Operations and Project Management
Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Katie's senior project involved hands-on experience with small mammal trapping and surveys, providing valuable field experience.
2. She started her career with a seasonal job at Oceano State Dunes State Parks after graduation, gaining practical experience in her field.
3. Katie emphasizes the importance of networking and taking initiative; she started as a receptionist at an environmental firm and worked her way up to a biologist position, eventually transitioning into project management.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path? Please start with your experiences in college and any internships or jobs you had before your current role.
I did a senior project that gave me firsthand experience with small mammal trapping and surveys. Through that, my advisor told me about a job at Oceano State Dunes through state parks.
I worked there for a season. It was a seasonal job, but I worked there for a season and graduated when I came home.
I actually got a job as a receptionist at an environmental firm. My hope was that I could get into being a biologist, and it worked out.
I started doing some biology work there and was finally promoted into a biologist position. I was there for about five years, and then moved to my current position at Helix Environmental.
I started out doing a lot of field work and then transitioned more into project management, which is the role I'm doing now.