Since graduation in May 2022, Natasha has had two jobs. Over the summer, she worked as a guide for Colorado Wilderness Rides and Guides in Boulder, Colorado. In this position, she led individuals of all ages on rock climbing, hiking, and backpacking trips across the Front Range.
Starting in August, Natasha began work as a Biological Science Technician for the GRSA Pika Study based out of the University of Colorado Boulder. In this position, she works with a team of five scientists from around the U.S. to survey pika distribution and prevalence in the Great Sand Dunes National Park. They also surveyed for potential overlap of pika and rabbit/hare populations to determine if transmission of RHDV2 (rabbit hemorrhagic disease variant 2) was a possibility in the National Park.
After completing the surveys for the Pika Project, Natasha solo thru-hiked the Colorado Trail in September.
Can you reflect on your time and experiences at CSU and how it benefited you?
My time at CSU taught me that there is no perfect path to take. I went into college with the idea that I would get my Bachelor's degree, then go straight to graduate school, get a career job, find a partner and settle down, and have a family. Although these milestones are still goals of mine, I learned through talking to professors and older students at CSU that sometimes the best way forward is to dive into the unknown and follow the things that interest you. Apply for the random internship that your advisor sent to you, even if you aren’t sure about it. Take a gap year to travel. Hike 500 miles across the state. Volunteer for the non-profit you support. Some of my most treasured experiences post-graduation thus far have come from seizing these opportunities.
What advice do you have for current students or recent grads?
The career services and emails from advisors, and the general community through Warner College have helped me astronomically both in undergrad and post-graduation. I got my very first lab and fieldwork job from an email my freshmen year, and that led me to pursue fieldwork all four years of college and make invaluable connections that led me to even more opportunities. Although the options may seem overwhelming come graduation, as cliché as it sounds, the best thing to do is to follow your heart. The connections and experiences that follow will be with you for the rest of your life and guide you into a career that you love.