PODS by Year

PODS I: 2002

Dates: 17–21 June 2002
Venue: Breckenridge, Colorado
Guest Speaker: Dr. Walter Munk

Current Contact Information*

Participant Name (Last, First), Current Employer (if allowed), e-mail address (if allowed)

Last

First

Current Employer

email address

Anguelova

Magdalena

National Research Laboratory

maggie_at_magde.info

Brix

Holger

UCLA

hbrix_at_ucla.edu

Carrillo

Laura

ECOSUR, Mexico

lcarrillo_at_ecosur.mx

Castro

Sandra

University of Colorado

sandrac_at_colorado.edu

Chen

Shuiming

University of Hawaii at Manoa

schen_at_soest.hawaii.edu

Chernys

Michael

Systems Architect, Wash DC

Not available

Hench

James

Duke University

jim.hench_at_duke.edu

Holland

Christina

University of Texas

cholland_at_utig.ig.utexas.edu

Jarosz

Ewa

National Research Laboratory

ewa.jarosz_at_nrlssc.navy.mil

Johnson

Helen

University of Oxford

Helen.Johnson_at_earth.ox.ac.uk

Johnston

Thomas (Shaun)

Scripps Institution of Oceanography

shaunj_at_ucsd.edu

Kang

Heesook

Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science

hkang_at_rsmas.miami.edu

Lea

Daniel

UK Meteorological Office

daniel.lea_at_metoffice.gov.uk

Lynett

Patrick

Texas A&M University

plynett_at_civil.tamu.edu

Mask

Andrea

Naval Oceanographic Office

andrea.mask_at_navy.mil

Polton

Jeffrey

National Oceanography Centre

jelt_at_noc.ac.uk

Roughan

Moninya

UNSW (Department of Applied Mathematics)

mroughan_at_unsw.edu.au

Socha

Katherine

Math for America

ksocha_at_mathforamerica.org

Testor

Pierre

LOCEAN, Paris

Pierre.Testor_at_locean-ipsl.upmc.fr

Thoppil

Prasad

Dept. of Oceanography, NPS

thoppil_at_nrlssc.navy.mil

Wang

Ou

JPL, NASA

Ou.Wang_at_jpl.nasa.gov

PODS Meeting Presentation Information

This table (PDF) lists the participant’s name, degree-granting institution, and dissertation title.

Survey and Web-Research Results

PODS I had 21 attendees. Based on 12 returned surveys and web-research, currently (2013), 12 of the PODS I participants are in academia, 7 are in government research positions, and 2 are in private companies.

Quotes from Meeting Participants

“PODS I was great experience. It was good to meet other recent PhDs and to communicate with representatives of various funding agencies. The good outcome was some experience on writing proposals and knowledge how the funding of grants works.”

“It was a great experience, both professionally and private. We even got a publication (on graduate education in oceanography) out of this meeting (or rather an evening in the pub...)”

“The 1st PODS symposium was a very good experience because it gave us a first glance into the world of academic fund-rising through meaningful advise on how to write successful proposals, how to interact with the funding agencies and getting to know your Program Managers. The organizers gave motivational talks on the challenges of getting your name out there and best practices to get the initial exposure we all need in order to get out of the shadows of graduate school and academic advisors, and be your own persona in the academic world. It was perhaps one of the most important symposiums I’ve attended to further my career. We got to know very interesting people, like the renowned oceanographer Walter Munk and his wife, and one of the NASA program managers at the time (Gary Lagerlof), and it was also a lot of fun!”

“PODS was a great experience for me and I still stay in touch with people from that group, now 10 years later. Walter Munk was the guest speaker and I will never forget meeting him. Part of our PODS group really bonded and after the meeting we published a paper together (on graduate education in physical oceanography). I think the most useful part of PODS was meeting program managers from NSF, ONR, and NASA, and getting their views on how to put together successful proposals. We also had a fair bit of fun, which I hope continues; with Walter Munk's encouragement in our ‘off-time’ we instituted the priceless ‘PODDY’ award. I remember building the trophy with borrowed tools in the parking lot of the hardware store in Breckenridge — I hope that it is still being awarded at each new PODS meeting!”

“Good experience; got a chance to talk to people working for federal laboratories and sponsoring institutions.”

“PODS was a really timely networking opportunity which I thoroughly enjoyed! It connected me with friends and colleagues I still interact with today. My working group, in particular, formed a strong bond and wrote a paper for Oceanography magazine together afterwards (on graduate education in Physical Oceanography). We also conceived of and constructed the infamous ‘PODDY’ award. Another aspect that meant a lot to me was the opportunity to interact with Walter (and Judith) Munk — Walter's perspective on the field is unique and insightful, and it was really inspirational to have such an outstanding senior scientist in our field there.”

“PODS was an excellent meeting — definitely the best one I have attended in terms of impact at the time. Meeting program managers, peers, and Walter and Judy Munk in a small group setting over a few days was fabulous. Some straightforward information on proposal writing from Teri Paluszkiewicz (NSF program manager at the time) was very helpful.”

“I cannot say that it helped my career. It was a very good experience and the interaction with one's peers from other universities and disciplines was invaluable. I hesitate to make recommendations, as I am sure things have changed since I participated.”

“It was excellent. I made many international friends that has certainly helped my career. One became a housemate when I moved country. Seven have even become co-authors (though only on 2 separate papers). Meeting NSF and NASA sponsors was also beneficial. Personally I benefitted more from the NSF link and have been a collaborator on an NSF grant (rules restrict overseas residents spending too much US tax payer cash). Recommendations to future participants: Go! Recommendations to future sponsors: Continue to support this. I found it helpful to connect a face to the agency.”

“It was a great experience. I have remained solid friends with a number of people that I met at the symposium who are now spread across at least 3 continents and we make a point of getting together at international meetings. A number of us published a paper together in Oceanography regarding post graduate education, as a direct outcome of the symposium (Brix et al. 2003). And, Cherneys, M. Roughan, M. (2002) Kick-off symposium series to help new PhDs is a success, Eos Trans. AGU, 83(45), 512, doi:10.1029/2002EO000356. I am disappointed that the PODY award was discontinued, For whatever the reason, the spirit of the award was well intended, and I think that the past recipients have been very deserving and have gone on to become world leaders in their fields. I think the symposium sponsors should continue the award in some way, whether or not it be renamed, or a new 'trophy', or removing the obligation to attend the following symposium.”

“Yes, it helped. It was a great experience. I would strongly recommend to anyone.”

“PODS was a great experience! It helped me to see my work more fully in the context of all the wonderful work being done in oceanography. It enabled me to make valuable connections with other people at a similar career stage, and it built my confidence immensely.”

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