What is the best advice and advisor/biologist has given you?

Ask A Biologist Monday 5/10/21

My grad school advisor always encouraged us to have a good work/life balance and I truly appreciate that lesson.

Use all of your senses when appropriate.
Null results are results, and are important!
Measure your productivity weekly instead of daily.
Always know where your truck is and how to get back to it without a GPS or map.
When it comes to grad school, it’s not about where you go but what team you work with.
When traveling abroad, immerse yourself in people’s culture as much as the wildlife.
You don’t know everything. Stop and actively listen when working with the public and land owners.
Never stop asking questions.
Talk to people/do research outside of your field.
Leave undergrad and do something in the real world before coming back for grad school.
It is okay and expected for students to make mistakes.
For research: stay question focused.
Thesis=learning experience. You’re not expected to perform as if you’ve done this a hundred times.
Have a healthy level of paranoia.
Never listen to anyone who tells you that you think too much. Analyzing is good.
Travel. Get real life experience. No one can take that away from you.
Volunteer at your dream job to test the waters and make a good impression.
It’s okay to say “no”.
When you are writing, say exactly what you mean in as few words as possible.
Just because your results aren’t significant, doesn’t mean they aren’t still important.
Wildlife management is mostly people management.
Always ask the question. It’s okay not to know and it’s okay to forget. It’s always better to ask again.