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Home >Prospective Students : Industrial Hygiene
BioWatch Program Coordinator
Center for Infectious Disease Research and
Policy (CIDRAP),
University of Minnesota
Describe your job-what do you do, what is a typical day like?
I work as a contractor for the Department of Homeland Security's BioWatch
program, which is a nationwide bio-surveillance system designed to detect
the intentional release of select aerosolized biological agents (i.e. a
bioterrorism attack). 90% of my time is spent designing, conducting and
evaluating exercises for cities involved in the program. I also provide
expertise on environmental sampling and personal protective equipment for
program guidance documents. A typical day is spent writing and coordinating
various documents required for an exercise to be compliant with the Homeland
Security Exercise and Evaluation Program, and about seven times a year I hit
the road with our exercise team to conduct and evaluate what are usually
two-day exercises around the country.
What do you think is the most important part of your job?
I believe that the work that we are doing is helping to better prepare
federal, state and local governments to respond to a biological agent
release. If they are able to respond quickly and efficiently because of the
exercises we have conducted or the guidance we have coordinated, the
public's health will be better protected.
What do you like about your job? What do you like least about your job?
I like that it is very rarely the same day twice. Because we are a small
team we all have to pitch in to get the job done, so we do everything from
mass printing of documents to editing presentations being given at workshops
to creating elaborate scenarios for exercises. I also like we are a very
professional team with no slackers, and that we have a very flexible work
schedule that allows me to work from home three days a week.
While I like to travel and enjoy the trips that we do, it is hard to be away
from home what currently amounts to eight times a year and is probably going
to increase.
What got you interested in this field?
Between getting my BS and MS I spent 7 years in the active duty Air Force as
an industrial hygienist. A lot of my time was spent doing traditional IH
stuff, but we also had a disaster response mission that I really enjoyed. My
military background and degree in IH were what got me this job.
Where do you see yourself going in the future?
Honestly, my dream job is to be a full-time farmer. I own a 13-acre hobby
farm (two horses and two cats) that I would love to turn into a business.
But until that becomes a reality (several years from now) I plan to keep
this job for as long as I can. I have also considered working as an IH
consultant because I enjoy traditional IH work as well. I plan to take the
CIH exam sometime in the next year.
What did you gain from your University of Minnesota educational
experience?
I got a lot of on-the-job experience in the Air Force prior to coming to
school at the U, but the classes I took reinforced what I had learned and
also gave me more background on why industrial hygienists do things the way
they do them.
What advice would you give someone just starting out in this field?
Get work in the field if you possibly can, either before or while you're in
school. So much of industrial hygiene (and hazardous substances work of any
kind) is learned on the job, and you can't get a feel for what we really do
on a day-to-day basis from classes.
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Associate Service Fellow
Health Effects Laboratory Division
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Morgantown, WV
What was your educational and relevant work experience prior to enrolling in the Industrial Hygiene program?
I came from Korea and received my undergraduate degree and master degree in Korea. My undergraduate degree was in veterinary medicine and master degree in environmental health. I worked for the Korean Air Force as an industrial hygienist for 3 years.
What made you interested in the field of Industrial Hygiene?
During my undergraduate years, I was interested in social movements and seeking a non-clinical career. One of my friends introduced me the field of Industrial Hygiene and I decided to study on environmental health with an emphasis in Industrial Hygiene.
What made you choose the University of Minnesota?
As an international student, I made my decision without any consideration on where I received my master or where I was living in. I was interested in metalworking fluids during my master years. My advisor at University of Minnesota was studying the same topic and received a fair amount of research grant when I applied for. I knew that University of Minnesota has excellent School of Public Health.
What would you say to a student considering the program?
This program is an excellent place for anyone interested in Industrial Hygiene including international students and the faculty of the program is very supportive of students.
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Technical Service Engineer
3M Occupational Health & Environmental Safety Division
St. Paul, MN
Describe your job-what do you do, what is a typical day like?
Our 3M division makes respirators, mainly for occupational use. Many of our customers are large manufacturers. I help customers use our products properly, and ensure new products we develop meet the customers' needs while meeting regulatory requirements.
A typical day consists of the following:
* Problem solve and/or answer technical questions from end users or sales reps regarding respirator use and regulations
* Participate in team meetings for various product development projects
* Write technical documents for our website or product user instruction
* Deliver training to 3M personnel or 3M distributors
* Visit customers to assist them with product questions or concerns.
What do you think is the most important part of your job?
The most important part of my job is ensuring the proper use of our products.
What do you like about your job? What do you like least about your job?
My job is great for two reasons, the variety of work and the people I work with. I work with professionals who are good at what they do and I learn from them every day. The least favorite part of my job is probably desk duties. Unlike many industrial hygienists who are based in the field, I have to spend a considerable amount of time at my computer and on the phone so I enjoy visiting customers when I can.
What got you interested in this field?
I first became interested in health and safety while working at a clinical laboratory. I tested blood for a host of diseases, but mainly HIV. I joined the safety committee and eventually went to the U for a masters degree in Industrial Hygiene.
Where do you see yourself going in the future?
As long as I continue to learn and enjoy the challenge of coming to work, I plan to stay in my current position.
What did you gain from your University of Minnesota educational
experience?
My education gave me a strong foundation of knowledge in the practice of industrial hygiene. It is impossible to learn everything you need to know in school, and I've found the contacts I made at the U are serving me well today. I regularly bounce questions off my classmates and I try to help them whenever I can.
What advice would you give someone just starting out in this field?
Use your network from the U and from your field experience, and continue to build your network throughout your career. Ask for help when you need it, and help others when you get the chance.
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