The full interview with Brandee Era-Miller
What do you do at Ecology?
I am a natural resource scientist and have been with
Ecology’s Environmental Assessment Program, Toxics Studies Unit for almost 19
years. I conduct toxics source assessments and characterization projects in
waterbodies all over the state from the Puget Sound to the Spokane River and
many places in between. These studies have included analysis of toxics in
water, stormwater, fish, biofilm (slime on rocks), sediment, and atmospheric deposition.
“Toxics” covers a wide range of chemicals, so I’ve studied many different
chemicals like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, metals, flame retardants,
and more. I’ve also worked on toxicity studies including a project where we
placed trout eggs in hatch boxes instream and monitored the health of the trout
as they grew into fry over the course of several weeks. How the trout responded
and developed gave an indication of water quality at the site.
What gets you excited to go to work in the morning?
I am a jack of all trades. I have enjoyed working on so many
different kinds of toxics studies. Spending time in different places all over
the state has been amazing. Washington is incredibly beautiful! Many people
both within and outside of Ecology use the data and information from our
studies to guide their environmental decisions and to learn about the water
quality in their watersheds. That makes my work feel important.
What advice do you have for women who want a career in science?
My advice for getting into a scientific field is to work
hard in school and seek out internships, volunteer opportunities, and hands-on
experience wherever you can. Besides at least a general degree in sciences,
nothing beats hands-on experience when it comes to getting your foot in the door.
My interest in environmental sciences started as kid, where I
would spend all my time outside climbing trees and exploring the woods and
nearby creeks. My mom also passed on her passion for the natural world to me. On
camping trips, she would always stop and explain all the plants and aquatic
insects to me. In high school I became involved in a program called the Envirothon. Through that excellent program, I went on to
compete nationally in Niagara Falls, New York, in 1993. In college, I had
internships with the Chehalis Tribe’s natural resources department and with the
city of Lacey’s water resources department.
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