MEET OUR STUDENT - FIONA SANDS
When she graduated from the University of Washington, Fiona Sands thought she would have to delay her career until she got the travel bug out of her system. Not so. Her coworkers at UW put her in touch with an asthma specialist from New Zealand, who was visiting the US and Canada. She flew to San Francisco for an interview, hoping for a summer internship. Instead, she was offered a permanent position as research scientist with Canesis Network Ltd., New Zealand. Her job involves studying control of dust mites in floor coverings and textiles. Dust mite allergens are common triggers of asthma. "It’s exciting to know that our work could help improve life for the 300 million people living with asthma worldwide," she says. She suggests that current students absorb as much information as possible from the DEOHS faculty and staff. "It’s important to take advantage of your time as a grad student by taking as many courses as you can handle." "The things about DEOHS that stand out the most are the strong curriculum and outstanding mentorship. There are a lot of great professors in the department willing to share their knowledge and experience," she says. Professor Joel Kaufman was her adviser.
Sands was surprised at all of the job opportunities available when she graduated in the spring of 2005. "Several environmental consulting firms I spoke with in the Bay Area mentioned that they were having a hard time finding qualified applicants with a background in environmental health."