Dr. Xia Wang, Geologist

Where do you work and what is your job?

I work in the Institute of Sedimentary Geology, Chengdu University of Technology. I am now an associate researcher.

What were your previous professional positions?

This is officially my first professional position regarding geosciences.

How did you get your current job?

My institute is the only one within the Chinese universities which focusses on sedimentary geology. So, I send my CV to them. After an online interview, I got the offer.

What did you find interesting about the job that you have now?

I need to do both teaching and research in this position. I have found that both are interesting for me. Through teaching I need to refresh my knowledge from the fundamentals of geosciences, which provides me a chance to review a lot of fields which are not close to my research interests. Not to mention the research part, you never find another place in China with this high density of sedimentologists. You always find someone to discuss your questions and ideas.

What are the most important skills one should have for this job?

I think except the research and teaching skills, skills including funding application and leading a small research group are the most important things for my job.

What does a typical working week look like for you?

Normally, I have 3 to 4 hours of teaching task per week. The rest of the week I need to do my research and participate in activities of the institute. I am in China now, so everyone works in the evening and weekends, as well. I have to say, this is not good for my health.

What do you like about your job and what challenges you most?

I was employed by a special program of our university. This program provides seed funding for young scientists. Therefore, I have a wide range of options to select my research fields. Meanwhile, to find out a field which is worth digging should be difficult for any young scientist.

How much of the knowledge you have learned from your studies do you need in your job?

Everything I have learned is needed in my job.

Looking back, how do you think about your Geosciences studies at the University of Potsdam?

I appreciate everything I have experienced in the University of Potsdam. It was a totally different system compared to my former university. I think the geosciences programs at the University of Potsdam are structured and enlightening. I used the experiences from the University of Potsdam to inspire my teaching and students supervision in China.

Do you have any tips for our graduates for a successful career start?

The only way to your success is that you keep walking.