One of the toughest questions all young scientists must face as we approach the end of our graduate studies is deciding, �what's next?� Answering this question may not be as simple as choosing between academia or industry, as this choice is often just the starting point from which we develop our career strategies. One topic that I will touch upon is the development of a research plan that extends beyond your PhD thesis work and how you can look for opportunities to leverage your academic skillset to pursue new research directions. My current research interests include examining the environmental implications of hydraulic fracturing in shale gas reservoirs, yet my PhD work was focused on carbon sequestration in deep saline aquifers. A common thread between these two research fields is my interest in studying the environmental implications of emerging energy technologies. In this presentation I will provide a brief overview of my past and present work and discuss how I came to study these topics. Finally, I will discuss my personal experiences and thoughts on pursuing a traditional academic career path.

Moving beyond your PhD: Strategic planning to pursue new research directions

247th National Meeting (2014)

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