Jessica Drake, who grew up knowing she had a passion for agriculture and the environment, is working on her Ph.D. in soil science. She has worked in a number of areas, including planting trees in the beginning of her career and working as a soil scientist for the government. Drake shares her love for soil and her experiences in her blog, Soilduck.

Why did you decide to pursue this career field?
I lived in the country as a child, where agriculture and environment were an important part of every day. Since my childhood, I knew I wanted to pursue one of these areas as an adult. I chose environmental science at a university and the passion of my lecturers drew me into soil science. I was amazed with how diverse, interesting and complex soil can be! I love problem solving, big-picture thinking and the environment, and I knew soil science was what I had to do.

What type of preparation did you do to get into this field, such as educational and work experience?
I had to complete high school for entrance to a university, including math, English, biology and chemistry. You can become a Level 1 Soil Scientist after completing a specialized soil science major at a university. With work experience or higher degrees, you can become a higher-level soil scientist. I have worked as a soil scientist in the government and private industries, and now in academia.

If your education was directly related to your career, what types of classes and projects did you have to do?
Biology, chemistry and environmental science were classes that are directly related to my career. In addition, I got to experiment with things, go on field trips and look at stuff. Go hiking. Dig holes. I worked out how things work, why they work and wrote about them, which all helped.

How did your education help you in your career?
School is about getting a background in the field to go in the direction you want to go. It has given me a background in soil science so that I can look for jobs in soil science. Education also helps you learn how to think about things and provides the tools to help you learn more. I need to learn more about soil every day, as I have new and exciting problems. The university has helped me to work out how to solve these problems.

What was your career path like in this field? 
At my first job, I was making sure people were planting trees correctly. Following that, I got my first job as a soil scientist for the government. From there, I changed jobs to get different experiences. I have now advanced my career by undertaking a Ph.D. in soil science, so that I can become a higher-qualified soil scientist and work in research or other jobs previously not available to me.

What types of skills is someone required to have to work in your position?
Skills needed are the ability to critically think, be happy to get dirty, effective communication, ability to collaborate and work with others, willingness to always be learning, to think outside the square, to listen and be patient, and to have fun while doing so.

What do you do on a typical workday?
Every day is different; I never know what I will discover. Today, I discovered some interesting connections between nutrient cycling and compost. Tomorrow? It depends. I do a range of things—work out in the field for a week, spend a few weeks in the laboratory and then work a lot on the computer reading, researching and writing.

Do you plan to advance to another position within your career field? 
Yes and no. I would like to find a job specifically in soil science or science communication when I finish my Ph.D. I would like to work specifically as a scientist, advancing the field and learning new things which can be of use to people. Alternatively, I want to work educating people about science and how we can use it.

What type of person do you think is best suited for a job in your field?
Anyone with a passion for learning and the environment.

Do you have any advice for those who are looking to launch a career in your field?
Try a few different things before you make a decision and choose what makes you happy. It may take a small amount of time, but may be a big help to know what makes you happy and what you are good at.