I'm an environmental scientist with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the agriculture program. Currently I focus on climate change and the agriculture industry, dealing with how climate change will effect food production and how to reduce emissions from the agriculture industry.

EDUCATION | Bachelor's in animal science from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo; Masters in Horticulture and Agronomy from the University of California at Davis

HOW TO GET STARTED | There are a lot of different paths. People at the EPA have degrees in biology, engineering, general science, environmental policy, and varied backgrounds. The EPA has a lot of great internship programs college students can apply for. Also, try volunteering in different environmental projects to determine if this is the job for you

MUST HAVE TRAITS | The ability to multi-task. You have to be able to strategize and think how you can grow your projects. Creativity- the ability to think outside the box. You need good writing skills, so you can take a lot of information and break it down to present it in a clear, concise way that others can understand.

how I got started | I was actually really lucky. Right after grad school, I attended a career fair where I got my resume in the hands of someone from the EPA. That person-to-person contact can be invaluable for getting noticed by the right people. I was hired to work in the waste division, working on recycling and organic materials composting. Like many people, I've had a rather strange career path. Originally, I had planned to be a veterinarian, but when I was in college, I got interested in range management and using animals to improve the land instead of degrade it. That's when I became interested in working for the EPA.

why this job?| When I was in grad school, I knew I wanted to work for the EPA. This is a way for me to make a real difference in environmental policy. For example, I helped develop an EPA pilot project in the San Francisco Bay area to convert 73,000 tons of organic food waste from restaurants into electricity per year, keeping the material out of landfills and limiting greenhouse gas emissions. The project has since been replicated in Santa Monica, and has drawn interest around the country. In 2007, the United States generated 31 million tons of food waste that went into landfills. If that could be converted into electricity, it would power five million homes for a year. For that project, I was a finalist for the 2009 Service to America award.

why I love this job!| I feel like I'm having a positive impact, working on improving the environment and effecting climate change. Also, the people- the EPA attracts people who are bright and very passionate about the environment. The opportunities are great here- it's not a job where you sit at a desk for eight hours a day and pound out your work.

my typical day| There's not really a typical day here. This week I spent two days at a sustainable agriculture conference. Other days, I spend a lot of time working with our partners within the EPA and from other groups and agencies. I deal with public inquiries, people who are concerned about the environmental impact of agricultural ventures in their communities. I spend time working on grants for various groups.

what they are | There are many pluses and minuses in working at the federal level. While it allows you to effect real change, you can also feel some distance. Sometimes I'd like to work at the city level of government, where you can be more hands-on.

all about growth | There is a lot of growth potential in the EPA and other government agencies. As more and more baby boomers retire, more management-level jobs are opening up. There are opportunities to transfer to different divisions, where you can learn new skills and keep things fresh. Also, the EPA can be a good starting point for a career in environmental protection in the private or non-profit sector.

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