Joana Marques Melo

LinkedIn

Current Occupation: Senior Program Associate/Non Profit
Graduate University: Penn State University

Answers from the Mentor:

1. What led you to pursue your current career sector?
I have always believed that scientific knowledge should be part of policymaking, which led me into the science nonprofit sector. Meaningful changes can occur when science informs decision-making.

2. If you could give one piece of advice to graduate students exploring career options, what would it be?

Before committing to any path, spend time talking to people whose professions interest you, even if they are outside your own field. Prioritize having informational interviews with them. You will learn far more about what they really do than you ever would from job descriptions or LinkedIn profiles.