Q: You have a great deal of experience in graphic design and research. What aspects of that experience have you found particularly applicable to your work with Cramer Fish Sciences?

A: Since I am the company GIS specialist, the ability to communicate clearly through visual media has been essential for designing effective and attractive maps and other presentation graphics. Knowing where and how to look for data has been absolutely essential to my work here, as well as the ability to persuade agency folks to relinquish their hard earned data sets. If the data is out there, I will find it!

Q: What initially excited you about working at Cramer Fish Sciences?

A: What excited me most was the opportunity to use my education and experience to help solve some of the problems currently facing fish populations in the Pacific Northwest. I was also drawn by the fact that I would be working with some of the most accomplished and respected professionals in the business.

Q: What non-technical skills have you found to be most beneficial as a fisheries biologist?

A: The ability to multitask has been very useful, as I am often working on several projects at once. Effective time management has also come in handy since most projects are deadline-driven and operate on strict financial budgets. I have also found it important to be able to communicate effectively with co-workers and colleagues outside the office.

Q: If you met with a group of high school students researching careers in environmental sciences, what advice would you give them?

A: There is an almost unlimited amount of career choices under the umbrella of environmental sciences. Investigate a wide variety of career paths to find an area of study that really interests you, and then get some experience in the form of internships or volunteering to make sure it's a job you'll enjoy. This work experience will also be invaluable when you look for full-time employment in the future.

Q: What aspect of your career have you found to be the most rewarding?

A: The variety — I work on many different tasks, for many different projects. I have really enjoyed expanding my knowledge about the area's many different river systems and fish populations, from Alaska all the way down to the central valley of California. I learn something new here everyday! I have also enjoyed meeting and interacting with fisheries professionals from multiple agencies all over the Pacific Northwest.

You may contact Sephe via email by clicking here.