Timothy L. Dickson (2009)
From a “Focus on Ecologists” maintained by the ESA Education Office about 2009-2011.
| Full Name | Timothy L. Dickson |
| Degree | PhD |
| Job Position | Field Station Staff Scientist |
| Organization | Washington University in St. Louis |
| Department | Tyson Research Center |
| Professional Affiliation | Academic |
| What do you love most about your job? | I love the opportunity to learn about the natural world. |
| For each degree you’ve obtained, list the degree, field, and institution. | B.A. in Biology with Environmental Studies Concentration, St. Olaf College Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Kansas |
| Who or what inspired you to become a scientist (or other profession)? | I spent much of my childhood in a riverside park near my home, and I gained a love of being outdoors. This love of the outdoors led me to ask questions about how nature “worked” and to pursue ecological studies in college and graduate school. |
| What is the most valuable advice a mentor gave you or that you would offer to someone who’d like to do the same job as you? | I would recommend trying to determine where you want to end up after your schooling is completed, and then making sure that your schooling / training is preparing you for the job you eventually want to have. I would also recommend to those people beginning a graduate research program choose a “big question” which excites them, and then have another somewhat safer project as a backup. Projects looking at major questions are generally harder to successfully complete, but it is easier to stay motivated about the project and other people will be excited about the results. |
| Award Name | Braun Award 2003 (Best ESA Student Poster) |
| Year originally profiled. | 2003 |
| ESA Award | E. Lucy Braun Award |