I’m late again! Posting this prompt response beyond the requested due date. I’d blame the craziness of our profession in the remote learning world, but everyone is dealing with this and I’m probably the latest!
I don’t know that I can specifically say that there has been an expansion in my knowledge of career opportunities due to my Kenan Fellowship. The majority of my work thus far has been remote and through my sponsor, Dr. Fanxing Li, and one of his TA research assistants. While both have been as supportive as they can be through the remote process that we have been thrust into, I certainly was aware that professors and TAs existed before this experience!
I can certainly say that there is a level of tech support available at Universities that I did not previously realize. Going through the process of accessing terminals remotely to work led me through numerous levels of tech and log in informational tech support. Knowing that tech support is one thing, realizing that there is are three separate entities that support similar tech is dizzying!
I fully believe that I would have learned a great deal about additional careers as a result of being in person were that possible. Seeing the actual lab in action would have shed light on the range of employees necessary to make sure a lab function. My hope is that I will be able to get into the lab by the end of my fellowship in order to see these careers in action!