Live Coverage: To the Helipad!
Imagine you're sitting at your desk, perusing reports, when your phone rings with a directive to grab your ever-ready packed bag out of the back of your car and make time to the roof-top helicopter pad, where you will be leaving immediately for New York city to confirm a suspected case of inhalational anthrax.
Not a part of your typical day? It could be, if you explored one of the unique career opportunities for microbiologists presented this afternoon at the ASM General Meeting. Attendees learned from genuine microbiologists about careers in regulatory approval, the military and the FBI.
Nicholas Paquette, MS, MT(ASCP), CBSP, a microbiologist with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, related the above story. Paquette and a response team were part of the investigation of the first case of anthrax since the more widely known terrorist attack on senators through mailed letters. In this case, it turned out the victim had actually been exposed through goat skins he had brought back from Africa to make drums he used in a dance troupe he was a part of.
Paquette and his fellow speakers provided attendees with information on various exciting career paths and opportunities and their points of entry. Check back for more conference coverage after the show to learn about the other careers.