Navy Scientist - Microbiology

[n3t]

I am currently working towards finishing up an undergraduate degree in Microbiology. I am hoping to get a PhD in some form of Infectious Disease Microbiology.

While searching for potential future careers, I discovered a Microbiology program with the US Navy within their Healthcare sciences programs (linked below). From the information I have found, it is definitely something I am interested in. I am planning to meet with a Navy Recruiter soon, but I was hoping some of you would have experience in Navy or military sciences. Any insight you can provide about life as a Navy/military scientist is appreciated!

http://www.navy.com/careers/healthc...biology.html#ft-qualifications-&-requirements

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[Red Lobster Actual]

One of my officer training classmates was commissioned this way. Unfortunately I only talked to him in passing. I believe he mentioned you get your PhD first, then the Navy will commission you. He's currently in Walter Reed and Fort Detrick(?) doing research for the Navy. Not too bad a gig, you start as an 0-3 and there are only a very small handful of places they will send you simply because we don't have that many infectious disease research facilities.

So focus on getting your doctorate -> get commissioned -> go to Officer Development School (5 weeks) -> start researching in one of the Navy's major hospitals

Make sure you get a clear answer from the recruiter in regards to your commitment to the Navy but I doubt it is as convoluted as what the physician folks have to deal with.

 

[Oo Cipher oO]

FYI here are some of the current locations for Navy medicine research http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmrc/Pages/nmrc_labs.htm

 

[Gastrapathy]

Watch out for the terremotos.

 

[n3t]

Watch out for the terremotos.

What do you mean by that?

 

[Red Lobster Actual]

Los terremotos, and I might be wrong because it has been quite some time since college, are creatures that dwell in the subterranean earth. I believe the scientific nomenclature for them is Terra tectonicus. Particularly common in Lima, Peru which has one of the Navy's medical research centers. No one's ever really seen one but we all felt their presence. In Japanese mythology it was believed they look like a catfish and called it Namazu.

Now during T. tectonicus' mating season they can release enough energy to cause surface disturbances and if forceful enough, tragically these disturbances can damage entire cities and kill many people unfortunate enough to be living above. The one Dr. Gastrapathy was referring to I believe is the mating between the Nazcan T. tectonicus and the South American T. tectonicus.

So...as they say in Peru, "Cuidado de los terremotos!"

 

[Shikima]

I miss Lima. What a gastronomic experience!