 What is your current job and what does it entail?
I am the president and co-owner of Micro Technologies Inc., an aquatic animal health laboratory located in Richmond, Maine. The aquaculture diagnostic workload consists primarily of performing aquatic animal health inspection and certification procedures on cultured aquatic species for aquaculture companies, both private and public, located throughout the United States and the Maritime Provinces of Canada. Fish health inspection work is performed in order to establish the health status of cultured aquatic species and to avoid the possible dissemination of disease to natural resources. I am a certified fish health inspector for both the United States and Canada.
I am also involved in state regulatory issues and am a member of the Maine State Fish Health Advisory Board. As a member of the American Fisheries Society Fish Health Section, I was elected by my peers to serve on various professional standards committees on the national level.
What was the key factor in your career decision?
My experiences as a student and a student worker in the microbiology department at the University of Maine. Many of the professors I took classes with and worked for were doing research with fish diseases. My first professional position was doing fish disease research in the microbiology department.
What do like most about your career?
I work both in an outdoor environment and in the laboratory. I enjoy working at the aquaculture marine sites and hatchery locations. It is a pleasure interacting with the clients in a hands-on situation. I also enjoy performing the technical microbiology tests at the laboratory.
What do you like least about your career?
My position involves a somewhat unpredictable work schedule, which is the nature of a position dealing with any type of animal production. Specific aquatic animal life cycles and emerging disease diagnostics can require 15-hour work days with no rest the following days because of testing procedures.
What do you do to relax?
I have many hobbies that help me to relax. I enjoy dancing, photography, weight lifting, walking and reading novels.
Who are your heroes/heroines?
I really admire people who stand up for what they believe in and live by their convictions even in the face of obstacles.
What advice would you give a high school student who expressed an interest in pursuing a career in your field?
There are many courses of study a student can choose from to pursue a career in marine sciences. Choose the course of study that interests you the most. Enjoy your college years. Leave all your options open and volunteer for every source of work experience possible.
Are career opportunities in your field increasing or decreasing and why?
Opportunities are increasing in the area of aquatic animal health. Aquaculture is a new and expanding field. As the type and number of cultured organisms increases, so will the demand for aquaculture support and health specialists.
What will you be doing 10 years from today?
It's difficult to determine what I will be doing in 10 years. My career has changed and progressed. I leave all options open. As a company owner I will focus on new business possibilities and growth. Micro Technologies Inc. started with two employees working out of one room and now, eight years later, has 10 professional employees with a fully equipped lab.
Salary:$40,000 - $60,000
Email:dbouchard@microtechnologies.biz
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