Do The Change: Challenging and Reimagining OEHS

Do the Change: Reimagining OEHS with Javier Freire (Part 2)

• Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (COEH) • Season 2 • Episode 1

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Tune into Season 2, Episode 1 with Javier Freire, a PhD candidate in Environmental Health Sciences! This episode is the first of our second season of Do the Change, hosted by Joanne Teh. In this conversation, Javier and Joanne discuss Javier's career in biomonitoring wildland firefighters, his journey from Chile to America, the invaluable role of mentors, and his tips for young professionals looking to stand out to employers.

See full transcript here: https://www.coeh.berkeley.edu/do-change-javier-freire

JOANNE TEH:

Hi everyone, welcome back to part two of our conversation with our amazing speaker on the Do the Change podcast. We're going to jump right back into the conversation. Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube and follow us on Spotify and Instagram @dothechangepodcast. Do you have any, okay in that case, do you have any goals when it comes to like what you'd like to accomplish here before you go back to Chile?

JAVIER FREIRE:

Well, the main goal is try to learn as much possible. I have a wonderful academic advisor and she has a lot of experience about their research. She's a really good professor too. And I want to learn about the Environmental Health Science in general, I discover new areas for me, for example toxicology or that risk assessment is a really new topic for me. Even some statistical classes and epidemology classes is really great to learn about this process, the whole process. And then we, maybe we can develop some research with the whole process in Chile or Latin America.

JOANNE TEH:

Mmm, so you're- JAVIER FREIRE: But- Oh, sorry.

JAVIER FREIRE:

So yeah, I spent a lot of time, this- the last few years in different subjects.

JOANNE TEH:

I see, so you're here trying to learn like about as much about Environmental Health Occupational Health as possible in every field.

JAVIER FREIRE:

Yeah and I start with basic, like epidemiology, statistic on this kind of subject but it's really great.

JOANNE TEH:

Interesting, interesting. So in that case since you're pretty well versed in like the different things that EHS has to offer do you have any like advice for those who are interested in the field and like just barely getting to know it?

JAVIER FREIRE:

Yeah I think well, maybe the main advice is try to maybe consider research or probably maybe you need to define what is your area or what kind of area you can, you want to research. Maybe this kind of activities or talk with other professionals or participate in different conquest, could be great activities for improve your networking and for example in my case, I met my academic advisor in Florence in 2018 and in international Congress. But currently probably using the online platforms is other good thing that people who want to research in this area can consider too, because there are a lot of professional that use this kind of social medias like Twitter LinkedIn or this kind of platforms I think it's important to use.

JOANNE TEH:

I see, I think for those who are, for those who are new to the career or to like their professional lives- I- sorry.

JAVIER FREIRE:

No worries.

JOANNE TEH:

I find that myself and a lot of my peers, the thing that we struggle the most with is like narrowing down what exactly you want to do, right? Because there's so many things to do out there in the world like even when you're just talking about the environmental health topics, there's so many from toxicology to epidemiology to ergonomics etc, etc. Like I find that's the hardest thing. Is there any insights from your own journey? Besides the things that you've just told us of course.

JAVIER FREIRE:

Yeah, yeah, also, sorry. I forget to mention is necessary maybe relate your life experience with your academic goals too, because when you have this relationship you can maybe enjoy the process or because you want to resolve a specific problem that you have in your life and you can maybe put more energy or I don't know. But it's really good when you include your own experience and what is the next step that you want to improve these kind of problems.

JOANNE TEH:

Was being a physiological trainer also related to that? Was that something that you were passionate about in your life, when you were younger?

JAVIER FREIRE:

Yeah, sure. For example I remember really some bad experience when I was a child in relation with the relatives or other people who suffer a lot of injuries when they work. For instance I remember when I was a child I went to the funeral of more than 30 miners which death about the explosion, by gas explosion. I think was a really bad experience about the insecurity of workplace and probably this kind of experience life experience beside what you probably, you can resolve in the future.

JOANNE TEH:

Yeah, that's good insight. That's really sad.

JAVIER FREIRE:

It's sad, but the life I think have sad moments but we need to try to keep this moment for improve the future.

JOANNE TEH:

Yeah, exactly. What did I ask you just now about your advice for narrowing down the the field that you would like to do as a new professional?

JAVIER FREIRE:

Sorry, I can't hear you, sorry.

JOANNE TEH:

Oh, sorry about that. So earlier the question I asked you was what is your advice for narrowing down the options of like what a new professional should focus on in their career?

JAVIER FREIRE:

Probably there are lot of alternatives, but I think for example if you want to develop the different skill probably you can find some mentoring and guidance. For instance I have a lot of opportunities here in UC Berkeley for people who help me about the well, language, statistical, or different subject for different gaps of knowledge and I think when you be honest about your weakness and you talk with your maybe academic advisor or different Professor, probably they can guide how you can resolve this situation.

JOANNE TEH:

How did you find all your mentors here at Berkeley because it sounds like they played a very integral part to your Journey?

JAVIER FREIRE:

Well, UC Berkeley have a lot of resources about that and probably you can talk with other classmate and Professor for discover what is the best tool that you need or help, you know.

JOANNE TEH:

Mhm, okay. Is there any advice that you wish like you could have told yourself at the start of your journey?

JAVIER FREIRE:

Maybe be more confident. Yeah. Because sometimes I felt a little upset about the different situation. I remember when I arrived here I heard the impostor syndrome, And probably I suffer a little bit this kind of syndrome because UC Berkeley have a lot of amazing Professors, amazing students and I was not sure, okay why I stay here why I'm studying here if I consider myself as a person don't have a lot of maybe resources. First language is different, and it's a big issue to try to explain my ideas and sometime I felt frustrated about that. But at the end of day you say okay I'm stay here for this goal and I think we- I have a great family that encouraged me to resolve or think about this problem and I have a really great classmate too. My academic advisor is really great too and I think for, with this kind of help you can resolve this problem.

JOANNE TEH:

Yeah, yeah. Imposter syndrome is a really key topic here at Berkeley.

JAVIER FREIRE:

Yeah.

JOANNE TEH:

Ever since like I personally came here for like my undergrad it's just like every, every year, every seminar people are always talking about imposters syndrome, because it's true, it's really, it's really impactful when you're like when you're part of the society here at Berkeley.

JAVIER FREIRE:

Sure, absolutely. Yeah but it's real, it happens.

JOANNE TEH:

Yeah. It really happens.

JAVIER FREIRE:

Yeah.

JOANNE TEH:

But what you said is true like I totally agree, like working through it with people around you and like keeping in mind your own goals.

JAVIER FREIRE:

Yeah, by the way the UC Berkeley have a really great professional for that. They have a special unit for mental health and they can help with these kind of issues. I encourage to people who suffer this kind of problems maybe just ask for help.

JOANNE TEH:

Yeah, yeah, definitely. UC Berkeley does have a lot of resources for this, it's time to- we should encourage the people to take advantage of it more. I definitely don't take advantage of them as much as I should.

JAVIER FREIRE:

Yeah, absolutely. I completely agree.

JOANNE TEH:

Okay, and then I have another question for you and that is: in your opinion what are some of the key challenges or opportunities that young professionals may encounter in your field today and like how can they navigate those challenges and seize the opportunities?

JAVIER FREIRE:

Well, let me think about that. Maybe young professionals have, yeah, several challenges or opportunity today probably. One of the most prominent challenges I think is finding innovate or yeah I think innovation solution for to address Global Environmental issues such as climate change or air pollution for example is a where our really big issues. For example the impact of the workload due the frequency and severity of the Wildfire by the climate change represent significant challenges in my research area. But I think the young professionals face personal challenges too, for example internal pressure or external pressure too or the lack of self confidence too. Yeah, but the most important I think is try to recognize what is your weakness and ask for maybe help, yeah.

JOANNE TEH:

Mhm. So like the main challenges would be like your own personal like mental struggles going through this process?

JAVIER FREIRE:

Yeah that is right.

JOANNE TEH:

I see.

JAVIER FREIRE:

I think this the best way to solution.

JOANNE TEH:

So the key word here is like introspection and asking for help?

JAVIER FREIRE:

Yeah.

JOANNE TEH:

I see, I see. Then how about opportunities? Are there any opportunities in your field now like firefighting and like environmental health ergonomics that you think are more relevant now than ever?

JAVIER FREIRE:

Yeah, the last time, well with the climate change we have more wildfires and probably is the workload of the workers are increased a lot. And sadly we have more frequency its' the long duration about the wildfires, and in this area we have a lot of work that we need to do. Yeah, but I think we need to work as a collaborative team with other university, other organization because it's a big issue. In Chile, in California maybe we have the same environment and in other countries too. I think it's crucial to develop a specific strategy as a human being, not just for Chilean or Americans or for other people, it's just for human being.

JOANNE TEH:

Mhm. So yeah, like on one hand there's more fires which is bad, but it also means that this field is more relevant now than ever and we like definitely need new people entering the field?

JAVIER FREIRE:

Yeah, sure. Every year we have more people who death about this reason. We have people with different illness such as respiratory illness, we have worker with different heat related illness too, and yeah it's this really call to the action now.

JOANNE TEH:

Yeah in my time with COEH I've seen that more and more things are now like now permanently like intertwined with climate change now like every field has to do with climate change.

JAVIER FREIRE:

Yeah. The good thing in the public health school, the climate change or this big issue is like a, there are a lot of people who are working in this area with different point of view. I think it's really great because you can talk with different professional that research about the different impact or health impact about the climate change. For example I have a lot of classes with different point of view about the climate change. I think this a really great experience for expand your knowledge about the, what is the health outcomes that the climate change, go effect.

JOANNE TEH:

Yeah, and I'm seeing now more and more conferences, more and more like webinars are being held about climate change it's a very hot topic now.

JAVIER FREIRE:

Yeah. It's really hot topic. It's very-

JOANNE TEH:

Mhm, okay. I have another question which is so for like, for recent graduates or like seniors in high schools basically people who are just leaving their previous stage of their career or their life and entering their next stage, the job market can be very daunting, so like what are some strategies or tips you could suggest for a young professionals to like stand out and secure opportunities like in the job market or for like research labs?

JAVIER FREIRE:

Oh this is a really good question. I think the first thing is try to for example develop different skill and knowledge when they can talk with different Professor during the high school or college or different scenarios and probably if they can have a networking opportunity, or collaboration has a Volunteers in different organization, could be a great for develop different skill, because when they have job opportunities as a volunteer for example they can develop different skills such as Communications or just for develop responsibilities, I think it's really great. But in this area I think maybe participate in different conference, workshop, or just to keep maybe reading papers about the what is the new impact or what is the you know impact about the acute or chronic environmental situation, could be great.

JOANNE TEH:

So your advice is kind of just to like expose yourself to the field as much as possible like absorb as much information, I see.

JAVIER FREIRE:

Yeah.

JOANNE TEH:

Yeah. You mentioned getting unique skills, so like in your field what does unique skills look like?

JAVIER FREIRE:

Probably communication, could be a important communication, language too today. If you speak maybe two or three languages are great advantage. For example there are lot of people who speak Spanish in California and when we have a field work I can talk with a lot of workers in Spanish. I did some survey's in Spanish. I think that it's amazing too, yeah. I think when you can communicate with a lot of people it's really great because you can get what is the point of view of different people.

JOANNE TEH:

I see. It's especially pertinent for you because speaking Spanish, you get to like you said you get to communicate with the people who are like on the field.

JAVIER FREIRE:

Yeah, yeah.

JOANNE TEH:

The people who are actually working the jobs that you're analyzing, right?

JAVIER FREIRE:

Yeah I talk with different people who work in agriculture, as a janitor, in poultry, companies, yeah I think it's really great when you can talk with the workers, you know?

JOANNE TEH:

Awesome, yeah. Do you think that you usually, do you spend more time like out and about in the field talking to people or do you think you spend more time like behind a computer screen like research?

JAVIER FREIRE:

Both. Yeah, because when we have a surveys for example it's a really great opportunity for maybe expand what is your opinion about several topics. I think this is the most important part of the different study, when we can collect what is the impression of thoughts about the job.

JOANNE TEH:

I see. What type of surveys do you end up usually doing?

JAVIER FREIRE:

For example I did some surveys about the what is the personal opinion about the janitors for example in different venues, such as Airport, shopping mall, or other kind of venues, and in the other companies too but I think it's great way you can receive the personal opinion about the different working situations.

JOANNE TEH:

I see. So you're out there interviewing them basically.

JAVIER FREIRE:

Yeah, yeah.

JOANNE TEH:

That's interesting. Oh, so that's why you emphasize Communications as a key skill.

JAVIER FREIRE:

Yep, sure. Tt's like a survey, but you can expand some topics about more, maybe, yeah.

JOANNE TEH:

Interesting. Sorry.

JAVIER FREIRE:

No worries.

JOANNE TEH:

Okay, maybe one more question. So I guess this goes back to like your journey, your personal journey. Could you talk about like a project or initiative that you've worked on that you're particularly proud of?

JAVIER FREIRE:

Yeah I think partly outside the Academia I am working in a specific program in Student Parent Food donation program that is really great because in Chile I never see any program something like that I think it's a really amazing program for food rescue and we live in the UC Village and we try to have, improve this program in this community.

JOANNE TEH:

Can you repeat the name of the program?

JAVIER FREIRE:

Student Parent Food Donation.

JOANNE TEH:

I see so like what exactly do you guys do?

JAVIER FREIRE:

We have different stores that we collect food every weekend and we distribute this food among the people who live in the UC Village. It's an amazing program because we can improve for example or we try to avoid this foods, maybe could be go to the trash or I don't know-

JOANNE TEH:

Mhm, like it's about to expire?

JAVIER FREIRE:

Yeah, but it's a really great program for families too, because living in California is so expensive, probably the housing, food is expensive, health insurance are expensive too and if you can help with the food area I think it's great.

JOANNE TEH:

Yeah, yeah definitely Berkeley's food prices are next level.

JAVIER FREIRE:

Yeah, sure.

JOANNE TEH:

I find it awesome that you are able to do that on top of your usual classes, on top of research, on top of having a family.

JAVIER FREIRE:

Yep, that's right.

JOANNE TEH:

Do you have any like time management tips, like how do you manage all that?

JAVIER FREIRE:

No, I don't have any something like that, but I finally I tried to balance my day between my academic goals and my family goals too. It's not really easy I think there are a lot of people in the same situation, but yeah I think it's really great at the end of the day.

JOANNE TEH:

Yeah, time management's something I'm working on right now too.

JAVIER FREIRE:

Yeah sometime it's really hard to manage my time.

JOANNE TEH:

Okay, in that case I don't know if I have any more questions. Do you have any other last things that you wanted to talk about that you forgot to?

JAVIER FREIRE:

Well I am really happy to be here in general. I miss my relatives obviously in Chile, I miss my friends, but I think it's a- stay here in California with my kids and my wife is a really great opportunity for us and I say just thank you for all people who can make this possible. And I am consider myself as a positive person in all my life, I try to be positive in this kind of thinking about my PhD journey.

JOANNE TEH:

Yeah. That's a good outlook.

JAVIER FREIRE:

Yeah.

JOANNE TEH:

Okay, in that case thank you for joining us today for our episode. It was really great to talk to you.

JAVIER FREIRE:

Yeah. Thank you for the opportunity.

JOANNE TEH:

Mhm, of course.

JAVIER FREIRE:

Was really great. Thank you.

JOANNE TEH:

Thank you, Javier. Okay, bye-bye.

JAVIER FREIRE:

Bye-bye.