Sarah Hagedorn
Ocean Scientist
Environmental Defense Fund
Raleigh, NC
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 Master,
Coastal Environmental Management, Duke University, 2002 |
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Sarah Hagedorn
provides scientific support and analysis on fisheries and
critical habitat in the Southeast Atlantic, focusing on the
translation of good science into successful policy and
management decisions. |
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"Don't forget to have
fun in college as well as study hard! For example, join an honor
society, play in the band, or be a part of a school club. Graduate
schools and advisors like to see that you are well rounded – not all
book-study, not all having fun, but a nice mixture of both." |
What
fields of biology do you work in?
Hagedorn:
Marine biology.
Q:
When did you know you wanted to become a Biologist?
Hagedorn:
Since I was a child.
Q:
What was your college experience like?
Hagedorn:
Extremely rewarding and fun. Taking a variety of
college classes helped solidify my decision to become a biologist.
Q:
Did you incorporate work experiences while you were an undergrad?
Hagedorn:
Yes. I took 6 months off to do an internship in
the field of marine biology. My supervisor from this internship and I
are still close, and she has helped me throughout my career by providing
advice and helping me find jobs. This internship experience also played
a major part in getting into graduate school and gave me connections
within my career that will last a lifetime.
Q:
How did you get your first job?
Hagedorn:
My graduate school advisor helped me get my first
job. One of his work acquaintances was hiring, and I fit the bill.
Q:
What's the most rewarding thing about being a Biologist?
Hagedorn:
Knowing that I am making a difference. In
addition, I truly love the biological sciences, and I find it rewarding
to work in a field that continuously fascinates me. Being a biologist
also offers opportunities to get outside!
Q:
Is there an example you can provide that shows how something you've
worked on has positively impacted the world?
Hagedorn:
Every day I work towards putting sound fisheries policy in place so that
our fisheries won't be depleted and fishermen are able to have a stake
in their resource and keep fishing
Q:
Do you spend a fair amount of time traveling?
Hagedorn:
Yes. I travel to many different places to attend
meetings and network with people, and occasionally to go out on
commercial fishing boats or do field research.
Q:
Do you have a mentor? Or did you in your college years?
Hagedorn:
Yes. I was assigned a professor as a mentor in
college. However, my internship supervisor turned out to be more of a
mentor to me than my assigned mentor. She continued to mentor me
throughout school and afterwards too. In graduate school, my advisor was
also a great mentor to me.
Q:
Do you find yourself working more in a team situation, or more alone?
Hagedorn:
In the past I have worked more as an individual,
but now I am working more as a team. It is helpful to know how to work
in both of these situations.
Q:
Do you find you are able to balance work with social/family life while
working in your current job?
Hagedorn:
Sometimes it is hard to balance personal life with
work, especially when I am traveling a lot. Most of the time I am able
to balance both fairly well.
Q:
If you had to do it all over again, would you still become a Biologist?
Hagedorn:
Absolutely!
Q:
Did you think that school prepared you for the way the work gets done in
the real world?
Hagedorn:
Yes. Undergraduate school taught me the basics,
then graduate school was essential in learning how the real world works.
Q:
Where do you see jobs for Biologists in the future? What should students
be doing to prepare themselves to take on those roles?
Hagedorn:
I would strongly suggest both college and graduate
school, and would urge students to do an internship during undergraduate
studies. The networking skills and connections made from this experience
will help you throughout your entire career.
Q:
What other advice do you have for precollege students?
Hagedorn:
Don't forget to have fun in college as well as
study hard! For example, join an honor society, play in the band, or be
a part of a school club. Graduate schools and advisors like to see that
you are well rounded – not all book-study, not all having fun, but a
nice mixture of both.
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