My name is Thomas Hadlari. I did a Bachelor's degree at University of Saskatchewan in geology (1998). I obtained at Ph.D. in geology at Carleton University in Ottawa (2005).
I currently work in Yellowknife, NT, as a geologist at a territorial government office called Northwest Territories Geoscience Office. I also went to grade school in Yellowknife, so in some respects I came home after University (my family currently lives in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut). Living in the north is important to me because I want my daughter's native heritage to be passed on to her in a way that isn't available in southern Canada.
I enjoy the science aspect of my job and I don't think my role is very important to society in general, I just do geology. I have published research papers in international peer-reviewed scientific journals (what I am most proud of). I have presented at scientific conferences (keeps me current). I am collaborating with researchers at Universities on graduate student theses (most rewarding).
My specialty is stratigraphy. I look at some drill core, but most of my work is based on, and my greatest strength is, fieldwork. I am interested in why sedimentary basins form and how they are filled.
My biggest accomplishment has been completion of Ph.D. thesis - the last push was difficult and I never want go through it again. But that news is a few years old, my two year old daughter is by far more important.
Q: What is the title of your job and what do you do?A: Project Geologist & Stratigrapher
Plan research programs; conduct fieldwork, generally, from a small camp in a remote northern location; collaborate with University and other government researchers.
A: Northwest Territories Geoscience Office Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
A: 9 to 5 in the office. I generally do 3-4 weeks of fieldwork in the summers: 7 am breakfast; 8 am helicopter departure; hike all day and clamber over rock outcrops to make the best observations possible; lunch with a view; 6 pm helicopter pick up; dinner by 8 pm; plan the next days adventure before bed.
A:In an office and in the field. Most recently in the Mackenzie Mountains
A: Helicopter usually.
A: B.Sc. and graduate degree in geology.
A: Imagination, Mental flexibility, Love of the outdoors, Be physically fit
A: $70,000 to $95,000 per year
A: Science, Mountain fieldwork and camp camaraderie
A: Outdoor activity, Generally good people, Research opportunities
A: Not really sure, I'm trying to avoid any sort of management.
Q: How physically demanding is your job? A: Variable, I enjoy my work and put in solid effort, therefore I would consider it very physically demanding & climbing mountains and carrying rocks.
A: The combination of science and outdoor activity
A: I loved working in the alpine regions of northern BC for the long climbs and beautiful vistas. I enjoyed seeing wolves and Caribou on the tundra. I've had some absolutely beautiful lunch spots on lakes in the arctic and streams and ridges in the mountains.
A: First, follow what you find to be interesting because then the work will flow more easily. Second, get some long summers of fieldwork done before you have a family.
