Name: Adriana Guatame-Garcia
Hometown: Chia, Colombia
Where did you complete your PhD?: Delft University of Technology - TU Delft (the Netherlands)
Research Focus:
I study the mineral interactions occurring inside mine waste deposits. The aim of my research is to develop quantitative mineral diagnostics that help establish forward-thinking in mine waste management and make the mining sector more environmentally sustainable.
Why I chose to do a postdoc:
I want to follow an academic career and develop skills and perspectives that will help me become a great PI. I wanted to get more teaching and supervising/mentoring experience and work in a new environment. Also, after doing my PhD on the economic/extractive side of the mining sector, I gained interest in the environmental challenges of the industry, and a postdoctoral fellowship on this topic was an excellent opportunity to integrate this dimension into my research.
Why Queen’s?:
When I started doing research on mine wastes, I came across the work of Queen’s folks in the Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering (Prof. Jamieson, Dr. Vriens) and saw the quality and impact of the work they were doing and decided I wanted to work with them. I also knew Queen’s has a welcoming and inclusive culture that seemed a good fit for me. The cherry on the top was all the support I got – particularly from the person who is now my supervisor (thank you Bas!) – when writing the grant that eventually brought me to Queen’s.
What do you enjoy about working as a postdoc?
I like the flexibility of interacting and collaborating with students, (senior) researchers, and technicians, and at the same time, work independently on my projects – all of that with a low administrative burden!
What are some challenges you’ve faced during your postdoc?
Some say a postdoc is a job where your job is to find a new job, and there is some truth in that. You don’t feel fully settled because you know this position is temporary, and you are often looking for your next opportunity. The postdoc community is also small and scattered, and creating links with other postdoc fellows can be challenging.
What’s next for you?:
I hope I will become an Assistant Professor soon! I am looking for a faculty position where I can lead my own research group and work on the economic and environmental challenges of mine wastes.