This document summarizes the job of a research scientist who studies volcanoes and the atmosphere. A typical day involves analyzing data in the office, conducting fieldwork by climbing volcanoes to take measurements, or working in a lab. The work requires a science degree, such as in natural sciences, geology, physics or chemistry. It also requires skills in math, computers, and using instruments to measure gases. The work involves publishing research, presenting at conferences, and sometimes communicating results to the public. While rewarding, securing a permanent position can be challenging.

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JOB CARD
Tjarda Roberts, Research Scientist-
Volcanologist/Atmospheric
Questions Answers
GENERALQUESTIONSABOUTYOURJOB
What isyour dailyroutine?Whatdoesyourjobconsist
of?
It can be quite variable.Some
daysI am inthe office
analyzingdataand making
plansfor future research.
Otherdays I am inthe field,
climbingavolcanoto make gas
measurementsorIcan be in
the laboratorymakingtestson
the instruments,orat a
conference topresentand
discussthe research.
Do youwork at the office? Yes,but I alsotravel to field
sitesandin the laboratory.
Is there anybusinesstravellingincluded? Yes.I travel to volcanoestodo
my fieldworkandto
conferencesto presentmy
researchand to discusswith
colleagues.
Doesthe work involve publicrelations? Our resultsare discussedat
scientificconferencesbut
sometimesIalsogive talksto
the publicor schoolsasit is
importantto communicate
more widely.
What type of communicationisit? By posters,researchpapers
and presentations.
Do yousometimesworkfromhome? We have some flexibilityin
hoursat the laboratory.If I
have a tightdeadline,
sometimesIfinishsomething
at home.
Is there anydifferenceinthe salary:atthe beginningand
at the endof your career?
Yes,it graduallyincreasesas
youget more seniorandmore
experienced.
Are there any careerdevelopmentspossible? The firststepafter your
science degree istodoa PhD
to learnthe skillstobecome
an independentresearch
scientist.Thensome further
yearstrainingas a postdoc,

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thenyoubecome a Lectureror
Professor.
What isyour dailyroutine?Whatdoesyourjobconsist
of?
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SKILLS
Whichknowledge didyougainatprimaryschool that
helpsyouwithyourprofessionnow?
A basisinscience andcuriosity
to explore.
Is itnecessarytospeakany foreignlanguage?Which
one?Whichlevel?Why?
The workinglanguage for
scientificpublicationsismostly
English.Ihave many
international colleaguesthatI
collaborate withinmywork
and I have livedinUK,Norway
and France.
Is the workingexperience necessary? It can be a goodway to find
out aboutthisjoband very
useful todowhenyoureach
higherlevels(university).
Whichtechnologyskillsare necessary? I use a combinationof math,
physics,chemistry,
engineeringtobuildthe gas
sensinginstruments,and
knowledge of geologyand
goodcomputerskillstodothe
analysisandinterpretation.
What otherskillsare recommended? Curiosityaboutthe worldand
some creative thinkingand
desire toexplore.Persistence.
PROFILE
What isthe minimumof knowledgerequiredforthe job? I dida Natural Sciencesdegree
specializinginchemistrywith
Geology. Lotsof volcanologists
studygeology,butyoucan
studyphysics/mathaswell and
thenapplythisto volcanoor
atmosphericresearch.
Gettinga science degree isthe
basisfor thenundertakinga
PhD to doscience research.
Is there extensive knowledgeof STEMneededforthe
job?
Volcano/atmosphericresearch
ishighlyinterdisciplinarybut
physicsandchemistryare the
basisfor understandingthe
processes.
Is there anymanual laborincludedinyourprofession? Notmuch, butsometimesto
carry many instrumentsupto
volcano.
OPINION
What advice wouldyougive tostudentsinterestedin
your profession?
Go for it!Scientificresearchis
challengingandcanbe hard
workbut isalso a really
rewardingcareer.
What do you like the mostaboutyour joband isthere
anythingyoudislike aboutit?
The freedomtoexplore new
science ideas.The opportunity

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to travel isalsoa bonus.Butit
can be hardto get a
permanentposition.