Marco L. Bianchini
Senior Researcher
Italian National Research Council (CNR)
Rome, Italy
 |
 MS,
Biological Sciences, Univ. of Rome I (Italy), 1973
MS,
Natural Sciences, Univ. of Rome I (Italy), 1981
PhD,
Fisheries, UW 1999 |
 |
Marco Bianchini
focuses on population dynamics and stock assessment of
deep-water shrimps. |
 |
"Remember
that you will spend half of your life at work: choose something you
enjoy, not money." |
What
fields of biology do you work in?
Bianchini:
Fisheries and marine environment.
Q:
When did you know you wanted to become a Biologist?
Bianchini:
The last year of High School.
Q:
What was your college experience like?
Bianchini:
We had a curriculum that corresponded to MS (Hons),
without passing thru BS. For my first MS, I lived in my hometown; my
experimental dissertation required frequent (short) trips to a location
100 km far from my home, but I had some time for enjoying life.
Q:
Did you incorporate work experiences while you were an undergrad?
Bianchini:
Not at all, also because you had (long) periods
dedicated exclusively to lectures and studying, with zero free (or work)
time.
Q:
How did you get your first job?
Bianchini:
A local selection for a post-grad fellowship (is
that a job?), and a national competition for a tenured position in the
National Research Council at junior level (just 18 months after
graduation).
Q:
What's the most rewarding thing about being a Biologist?
Bianchini:
To work both at the office and in open spaces, to
stay in contact both with wildlife and human beings; being paid to study
"pure science" without the hassle of making "saleable" technology.
Q:
Is there an example you can provide that shows how something you've
worked on has positively impacted the world?
Bianchini:
I don't think so, because I am still waiting for
my Nobel prize; but at the regional level, yes, because a restocking
project of slipper lobster I led was a success (at least in knowledge).
Q:
Do you spend a fair amount of time traveling?
Bianchini:
A lot! I visited 75 foreign countries (and I know
35 US states).
Q:
Do you have a mentor? Or did you in your college years?
Bianchini:
No, and never had; but some colleagues consider me
their mentor...
Q:
Do you find yourself working more in a team situation, or more alone?
Bianchini:
A small team is perfect, but I prefer loneliness
to crowd.
Q:
Do you find you are able to balance work with social/family life while
working in your current job?
Bianchini:
Yes, but my career somehow suffered (I would do
the same "errors" if I could choose). I may change employer, but cannot
change my sons; I cannot retire from parenthood! So it is better to
spend some times working on family relationships than all the life labouring.
Q:
If you had to do it all over again, would you still become a Biologist?
Bianchini:
Why not? I do not have experience being a
physicist or something else, maybe it is better, but I like what I am
doing.
Q:
Did you think that school prepared you for the way the work gets done in
the real world?
Bianchini:
No, and I am happy it didn't! My school curriculum
opened my mind, fulfilling my curiosity, teaching me stuffs that are
"useless" as a biologist, but incredibly important as a man. University
courses are different, but still knowledge is better than preparation.
Q:
Where do you see jobs for Biologists in the future? What should students
be doing to prepare themselves to take on those roles?
Bianchini:
I know nothing of "white coat" jobs, or about work
markets; but Biology for me is the Nature, the wildlife, the
"comprehension" of the causes, the coming home and being happy, the
going to work and be happy too. Do what you like, and you will be the
best; do what you think is right, and you will not be ashamed of
yourself.
Q:
What other advice do you have for precollege students?
Bianchini:
Remember that you will spend half of your life at work: choose something
you enjoy, not money.
|
|
