Today we’d like to introduce you to Lael Wakamatsu.
Lael, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Growing up in a small desert town, it was always a goal of mine to get out and move to Southern California. I studied hard in high school and enjoyed chemistry. Luckily, I was able to get into the University of California, Irvine, majoring at first in chemical engineering. I struggled through my first two years and was very unhappy. I then found some amazing professors and graduate students in the Earth System Science program. The more I learned about Earth science, I quickly realized my love for ocean chemistry, earth satellites, and just oceanography in general. I managed to graduate in Earth System Science with a specialization in oceanography and from UCI and then was able to get an internship at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). At JPL, I met hardworking and incredible people who inspired me to pursue a career in ocean satellite data and go back to school. I searched through countless programs and finally found a perfect match, studying toxic algal blooms through satellite data, on the other side of the world, at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Science at the University of Tasmania. I applied and got in, something I never thought would happen.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There have been several challenges for me, whether it’s questioning my own skills or being told I’m not capable of something. Being a young woman in science and academia has been difficult. Unfortunately, I have run into people do not take me seriously or question my abilities. It does not help that I am constantly thinking I do not belong in this field or do not deserve to be in a doctorate program. I would say the most important thing is being resilient and surrounding yourself with honest, knowledgeable, and supportive people. No matter what field you are in, rejection is always present. It’s difficult being turned down from a job, not getting a promotion, or just being told no. It’s important to remember that some situations don’t work out because something better is right around the corner.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I work with ocean satellite data and harmful algal blooms. I am trying to figure out what ocean conditions are spreading and developing blooms around the world by looking at satellite images. This is a very niche field, so it is usually rare to see a young, female researcher working in it. That pushes me to work hard and to prove I am able to study and produce reliable research on this topic.
Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
Making strong connections and finding inspiring mentors is key, as it has saved me countless times when I’m completely lost. I can always call or email an old colleague, mentor, or friend to help guide me through a situation. Do not get discouraged and don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice at any time!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lael_Wakamatsu
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/laelwaka
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/laelwaka
Image Credit:
Jesse Benjamin
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