A Day in the Life of a Scientist

Often the alure of being a scientist can be accompanied by misconceptions about what daily responsibilities of this role may include. This chapter paints a picture for the reader of a day in the life of a scientist in the general sense. Both academic and non-academic settings are presented, although greater emphasis is directed toward the former. Generally, tasks are accomplished at least in part by teams and include surveying the primary literature, designing a study, planning experiments, conducting experiments, analyzing data, interpreting data, writing reports, multi-modality dissemination of knowledge, applying for funding, teaching, and networking at conferences. In examining these roles, the authors aim to illuminate the multi-faceted and interdisciplinary nature of being a scientist in order for the reader to determine whether or not this path might be a good fit for them.