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Herman Cho received his Ph.D. in chemical physics and completed two post-docs before joining Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). Twenty-one years later he is at the same institution enjoying “the intellectual stimulation of scientific work, including the day-to-day tasks of problem-solving, building tools and instruments, writing software, data analysis, etc., as well as the deeper, long-term thinking that goes into pondering nature's mysteries.”
Cho’s primary responsibility at PNNL is to conduct independent, grant-funded research; his work focuses on radiochemistry and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Cho values national ACS meetings “as a vital way to learn what is going on in the field of chemistry and reconnect with colleagues outside my areas of specialization.”
Today, Herman Cho is a Senior Research Scientist at PNNL. This is how he works.
Average time distribution:
Instrumentation: NMR spectrometers and associated equipment
Software: Too many apps to enumerate and they are all essential!
My employer is a U.S. Department of Energy multi-program laboratory within the Office of Science. I have a private office and multiple labs where I conduct my scientific work.
I typically spend 60 hours per week working, both at my workplace and at home. I do not receive overtime pay. The work is self-paced, but expectations for productivity are high, both from my managers and from my funding sources.
Getting a good night's sleep and maintaining fitness and good health.
I remember not specific advice I received from mentors, but the compelling examples they set as career scientists, which I still try to emulate.
Perseverance and curiosity.
The ability to stay focused, goal-oriented, and disciplined.
ACS journals and meetings are indispensable resources for my work.
Getting a good night's sleep and maintaining fitness and good health."
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