Herman Cho, Ph.D.
Herman Cho
Senior Research Scientist
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
听
B.A., Chemistry, Amherst College
Ph.D., Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley
Herman Cho received his Ph.D. in chemical physics and completed two post-docs before joining Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). Twenty-one years later he is at the same institution enjoying 鈥渢he intellectual stimulation of scientific work, including the day-to-day tasks of problem-solving, building tools and instruments, writing software, data analysis, etc., as well as the deeper, long-term thinking that goes into pondering nature's mysteries.鈥�
Cho鈥檚 primary responsibility at PNNL is to conduct independent, grant-funded research; his work focuses on radiochemistry and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Cho values national ACS meetings 鈥渁s a vital way to learn what is going on in the field of chemistry and reconnect with colleagues outside my areas of specialization.鈥�
Today, Herman Cho is a Senior Research Scientist at PNNL. This is how he works.
Getting a good night's sleep and maintaining fitness and good health.
Typical day on the job:
- Planning/running experiments: 30%
- Writing (grants, papers, reports, presentations, etc.): 30%
- Computer-centered work (software development, data analysis, calculations): 25%
- Meetings: 10%
- Training and education: 5%
Work environment:
My employer is a U.S. Department of Energy multi-program laboratory within the Office of Science. I have a private office and multiple labs where I conduct my scientific work.
Work schedule:
I typically spend 60 hours per week working, both at my workplace and at home. I do not receive overtime pay. The work is self-paced, but expectations for productivity are high, both from my managers and from my funding sources.
Tools you can鈥檛 live without:
Instrumentation: NMR spectrometers and associated equipment
Software: Too many apps to enumerate and they are all essential!
Best productivity trick:
Getting a good night's sleep and maintaining fitness and good health.
Best career advice you鈥檝e received:
I remember not specific advice I received from mentors, but the compelling examples they set as career scientists, which I still try to emulate.
Skills or talents that make you a good fit for your job:
Perseverance and curiosity.
Essential habit you wish you鈥檇 started earlier:
The ability to stay focused, goal-oriented, and disciplined.
Favorite ACS resource:
ACS journals and meetings are indispensable resources for my work.
