Mike MalaskaJul 20, 2023

Welcome to several new followers!

Instead of a typical intro, I'll reveal something unique about myself: I started in planetary science as an amateur.

I am what happens when spacecraft missions release their data to the public.

I went from image processing, to reading up on Titan literature, to going to planetary science conferences during vacations, to transitioning from a 20-year pharma career to a NASA senior postdoc in planetary science at JPL, to current job as scientist at JPL.

Show threadCameron Bielstein
@mike_malaska That's awesome! To transition to a postdoc...did you have to go for a doctorate in a relevant field first or they bring on folks with relevant skills even without the doc part of the "postdoc"?
Jul 20, 2023 at 4:10amWeb
Show threadMike MalaskaJul 20, 2023

@cbielstein I had a PhD in chemistry but was from way back in 90's. The chemistry degree counted as a "doctoral degree in the hard sciences." However, at the time of my career change, I was well beyond the 7-years-post-PhD cutoff that would let me be in most postdoc programs.

When am put in charge of Earth, I will eliminate that cutoff.