Connecting Learning, Life and Aloha
‘O ka ‘imi na‘auao, ke ola a me ke aloha kā kākou e huliāmahi ai

Nathan Olson

photo
Organization
University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
Title
Undergraduate Student and Research Assistant
High School Attended
McQuaid Jesuit High School, Rochester, NY
College Attended
University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo

nolson@hawaii.edu

Job Description:

I utilize molecular based techniques to study the ecology of microorganism associated with reef building corals.

Interest in Field:

I think it was all my trips to the New England Aquarium as a little kid. Since as long as I can remember I have been fascinated with coral reefs and the corals that are the foundation of these magnificent ecosystems.

How did you get there?

I first volunteered in Dr. Muir’s molecular lab at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. From there I had two REU internships working in Dr. Takabayashi’s marine molecular lab also at the Hilo. Since then I have been fortunate enough to be still working in her.

Necessary Qualifications:

The main qualification is an intense interest in molecular and microbiology. If this interest is missing its a lot of really hard and boring work. Take a class in either of these subjects, you will either be sitting on the edge of your seat or staring at the clock.

Rewards of Work:

The ability to be able to discover something new about a system, in my case coral microbial ecology is one of the most rewarding accomplishments I have ever had in my life.

Relevant Work Experience:

  • Summer 2005 Volunteer Dr. Muir molecular lab
  • Summer 2006- Spring 2007 REU internship - Dr. Takabayashi's marine molecular lab
  • Summer 2007 ASM undergraduate research fellow Dr. Takabayashi
  • Summer 2007 Participant in the Edwin S. Pauley Workshop on coral stress biology

Typical Day:

Lots of pipetting and computer work, and occasionally I get to go scuba diving to collect coral for my projects.

Words of Wisdom :

You wish you knew...:

I wish I would have known how writing intensive this work is, and therefore would have worked harder on my underclassman writing assignments. You wish you were told...:

The works not hard as long as you appreciate the pay offs.

Final Comments / Advice:

There are very few opportunities in the job world to do something that is helpful to something bigger then yourself, and environmental careers are a majority of them.