Erin is a 6th year PhD candidate in the Engineering Systems and Environment department pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering at the University’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Her dissertation research involves studying bicycle safety in Virginia, by analyzing available crash data sets and collecting statewide data on crashes and bicycle infrastructure development. She is part of the Omni-Reality and Cognition Lab (ORCL) developing bicycle and pedestrian simulators for use in behavioral transportation research. More information about the ORCL can be found on the ORCL website. Erin participated in PhD Plus Career Design module.
Sponsored by PhD Plus, Erin was selected from University of Virginia to participate in Commonwealth of Virginia Science & Engineering Policy Fellowship (COVES) in the summer of 2020. The COVES Fellowship is a new 12-week fellowship program of the Virginia Academy of Science Engineering and Medicine (VASEM) where graduate student fellows serve as science advisors in a variety of placements, including legislative office, executive agencies or prominent companies and nonprofits in the state of Virginia. Erin was a COVES fellow in the Office of the Secretary of Natural Resources under the mentorship of Rear Admiral Ann Phillips (Ret).
What are your post-PhD career aspirations?
I am currently exploring policy or advocacy related careers as well as transportation research opportunities.
Please summarize your PhD Plus internship.
Last spring, I applied to be a COVES Policy Fellow, a new state-policy fellowship through the Virginia Academies of Science Engineering and Medicine. I was very interested in this opportunity, as I enjoyed participating in a week-long transportation policy fellowship, the Eno Future Leaders Development Conference last year. After my experience with the Eno fellowship and upon learning about the COVES fellowship, I realized this would be an incredible way for me to learn more about science policy and advocacy career paths. After being selected, I was matched with the Office of the Secretary of Natural Resources under the mentorship of Rear Admiral Ann Phillips (Ret). One of the main projects in the office over the summer was the Virginia Coastal Master Planning Framework. This document lays out the Commonwealth’s goals in enhancing coastal resilience to increased flooding, sea level rise, and more severe storms due to climate change. Although, I completed the fellowship before the Framework was finished, it was just published by the office of Governor last week. I am very excited to see the impact of my contribution, through the Virginia Coastal Master Planning Framework: principles and strategies document.
What professional skills did you develop during your internship?
This experience provided opportunity to hone my scientific communication skills, particularly in visual storytelling, as I developed maps for the Virginia Coastal Master Planning Framework.
How did the internship support your career development?
The COVES Fellowship afforded by the PhD Plus internship program has broadened my awareness of the varied career opportunities available to PhD graduates. The COVES fellowship program organized a number of lunch seminars where we were able to talk to scientists in other statewide or federal fellowships and get a better understanding of career paths to explore after finishing school.
What advice would you give peers on utilizing PhD Plus internships for career development?
Through the COVES fellowship experience and the PhD Plus Career Design module, I improved my networking skills, and better understand the importance of building, as well as maintaining professional networks. I would recommend that my peers take advantage of opportunities to expand their professional circles by asking lots of questions and utilizing other peoples' networks to build their own.