Embedded Files
Scientist Spotlight:
Scientist Spotlight:
Dr. Kristin Kimble, PhD
Dr. Kristin Kimble, PhD
College: Middlebury College
Graduate school: Brown University
Current position: Post-doc researcher in the Robinson Lab at the University of Rhode Island
The following information has been adapted from an interview between Kiley and Kristin.
Q: What type of scientist do you consider yourself?
A: My background is in paleoceanography, but I'm using elements of organic geochemistry and micropaleontology to figure out what happened in the past. So I guess I would consider myself a paleoceanographer.
Q: How did you know you wanted to major in something science-related in college?
A: In high school, I really liked my science and math and English classes. But my science classes were the hardest, so I wasn't certain that I wanted to pursue science in college. I enrolled in an intro to geology class my freshman year and because they got to go on field trips every week and spend time outside. I ended up really liking the class and decided to do a double major in geology and biology.
Q: You were a student-athlete in college. What was that like?
A: I was part of the track team at Middlebury. I did high jump. The track team wasn't my number one priority; my classes were. Sometimes I would be late to practice because I had a lab that was right before. But It was nice to have something to do outside of classes and I enjoyed the camaraderie of the team.
Q: You also studied abroad in college. Where did you go and what kind of classes did you take?
A: I studied in New Zealand the spring semester of my junior year. I took some biology, chemistry and geology classes there. I also took a Māori studies class which was really cool.
Q: How did you come to the decision to go to grad school after getting your degree from Middlebury?
A: In undergrad, we had to do a senior thesis, so everyone had research experience whether they wanted it or not. For my project, I got to to into ice caves in Utah to take samples. It was awesome and I liked the research a lot so I wanted to continue that sort of work after college. Even though I was a geology and biology double major, most of my undergrad research experience was in geology. I wanted to find a way to merge the biology and geology together, so I started looking for professors who were doing that kind of work.
I cold-emailed about 40 different professors and about half of them got back to me. I ended up speaking with maybe 15 of them on the phone and applied to 5 of their labs. I was accepted at Brown University, so that's where I ended up getting my PhD.
Q: You are now working as a post-doc in the Robinson Lab at URI. What exactly is a post-doc position?
A: Post-doc positions are kind of like a transitional job in between grad school and more permanent employment. There are teaching post-doc positions but mine is mostly research-focused. It gives me the opportunity to get different research experience, learn new lab techniques and expand my network in the field. After two years as a post-doc, I will have some good things added to my CV for when I apply to jobs.
Q: What is something you love about your job?
A: I like that it's kind of rhythmic. If I'm doing a lab procedure that I've practiced a lot, it's sort of comforting to do the same thing over and over and over again. I also really like when I really like when I first plot the data I've collected and try to figure out what it means. That's when I start talking to my advisors and collaborators and I get to hear their cool ideas that I didn't even think about. Then I have new avenues for investigation which makes me excited.
Q: What is your role on this cruise? What kinds of science will you be doing?
A: I am culturing diatoms, so I'm taking the water samples and then giving them enough nutrients and light to grow in a controlled environment. After a few days, I add this dye which binds to the silica that diatoms incorporate into their shells. This allows us to figure out how diatoms are taking up silica in different types of limited environments.
Kristin is pictured here filtering seawater from a pump with Pat
Q: What do you like to do outside of school and work for fun?
A: I like to go on walks in the woods and on the beach. I love animals so I like spending time with my pets. I have a cat and some fish. One of my fish is a pleco that's over 10 years old, and then I also have a couple of tropical fish.
Links to Kristin's research and more:
Links to Kristin's research and more:
Page updated
Report abuse