Gonzalo Castro de la Mata works across disciplines to balance economic development and environmental conservation. Here we talk about approaching problems from different perspectives and making time to live while you work.

In the Decoding Life series, we talk to geneticists with diverse career paths, tracing the many directions possible after research training. This series is brought to you by the GSA Early Career Scientist Career Development Subcommittee.

Gonzalo Castro de la Mata has always been interested in challenges surrounding environmental management and economic development. This has led to addressing problems in environmental management from many different perspectives – ecological, economic, and financial. Throughout his career, he has followed opportunities and interests wherever they take him. Now, Dr. Castro de la Mata brings his unique expertise to the oil and gas industry in Lima, Peru. Dr. Castro de la Mata provides advice on following your passions and making time for yourself during your career. 

How did you transition from the world of research to where you are today?

When I worked with other biologists and conservationists at the World Wildlife Foundation we really thought we were changing the world. Then I went to the World Bank and entered a world of economists, and I realized how powerful the science of economics is. It was shocking to realize that my discipline had limits when trying to understand how things work. Economists look at the world in a very mathematical and logical way. I learned about economics by interacting with them and reading, and this helped me a lot. 

Another shock was when I moved from the World Bank to my own company, raising money in the financial market, and I realized the power of finance. Here I realized that economics is really nothing without finance, the engine of growth for the economy. Throughout my career I have found myself with people in other disciplines, and very quickly, I had to integrate and learn those other disciplines to be able to grow professionally. 

Gonzalo Castro de la Mata close up

How has your career path differed from what you planned in graduate school? 

It is very hard to predict where you will end up. I think there is a combination of the opportunities that present themselves and what you really want to do. I have always chosen to change careers or jobs based on my interests and how the field progresses. I have not had a static career where I would say, “I am going to be in this position until I retire.” On the contrary, I am always looking for new challenges, and that really makes it exciting because I have never been in any given position more than three to five years. This means that you’re always learning and reinventing yourself.

 

I always wanted to work on international environmental issues, trying to find common ground between development, economic growth, and conservation of the environment. This theme has been pretty much the same, but I’ve been approaching it from very different perspectives. Whether that’s from NGOs that conserve the Amazon, from companies that introduce better environmental practices, from the world bank that has financed many conservation projects globally, or from a development perspective that takes into account the environment. 

What do you do to keep a good work-life balance? 

To me, owning your time is the most important thing to be able to control stress. I have always combined personal interests with my career. I have traveled extensively for work, to more than 80 countries, and I always add one to two days to each trip so that I can visit the country. I use that time to look at the art and architecture. Also, sometimes I block periods of time in my calendar  so that nobody can schedule with me. It becomes stressful when you aren’t able to own your time, and instead, have to fill your day with meetings. When you can structure your own schedule, it is much easier to combine work with other interests that are part of your life. 

It’s a huge mistake when people think they have to retire before they start to travel or pursue other interests. Your life doesn’t start after work, so you have to combine your work with other activities. I have lots of outside interests like art, antique books, and genealogy. Somehow I find time to do all of these things while being productive in my profession. You really have to pursue other interests in parallel and find the time to do other things.  

How do you maintain a good network? 

Never close the door and always think outside the box. More and more today the world is moving to be less sectoral, so the problems are no longer there only for a scientist or a lawyer or an economist alone.  When networking, don’t think that somebody that comes from a different background, a different country, or speaks a different language is not going to be a very important contact for you. You have to be really open-minded. Bring your business cards wherever you go, and keep those names because sooner or later you are going to need to talk to them, whether it is because you are visiting another country or need some advice. If your network is small, your reach is going to be small, and you might get stuck. 

Decoding Life: de la Mata medium shot

What are the most rewarding and challenging things that you handle in your position now?

The most rewarding is mentoring people and helping people grow professionally. You have to make people feel confident in themselves. I do that by building from how they currently approach things and keeping a positive attitude with them. You need to make people feel like they can achieve more and challenge them. Then, give them the space to grow. 

A challenge for me is bureaucracy. Humans need to be more free to create and solve problems without having to adhere to arbitrary procedures. Always look at a procedure with skepticism. Ask yourself, “Is this really helping me achieve what I am supposed to do, or is it a barrier?” 

What is your advice for early career scientists having a difficult time choosing a career path? 

Try not to worry too much about choosing the right career and follow your passion. Do what you like. Do what you think is right, and make sure you come into work each morning excited about what you’re doing. If you do that, you will grow in that space, and then other doors will open. Life isn’t about working so that you can retire, but rather working and living at the same time. 

 

About the author:

Abigail DiVito is a member of the Early Career Scientist Career Development Committee and a Graduate Student at the University of Pennsylvania. She is currently researching reproductive arrest and germline aging, and hopes to work in intellectual property.

Learn more about the GSA’s Early Career Scientist Leadership Program.

, ,

Graduate student and postdoctoral leaders from the Early Career Scientist Committees of the GSA.

View all posts by Early Career Scientist Committees »

Read more in

  • Collage of 2021 Rosalind Franklin Award recipients

    Where are they now? Rosalind Franklin Young Investigator Award recipients share updates on their research

    Rosalind Franklin Young Investigator Award applications are open–make sure you submit your application or nomination of a colleague by September 30, 2024.

  • University of Minnesota researchers map genome of the last living wild horse species

    The study, published in G3: Genes|Genomes|Genetics, is part of larger conservation efforts to save Przewalski’s horse.

  • Congratulations to the Spring 2024 DeLill Nasser Awardees!

    GSA is pleased to announce the recipients of the DeLill Nasser Award for Professional Development in Genetics for Spring 2024! Given twice a year to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, DeLill Nasser Awards support attendance at meetings and laboratory courses. The award is named in honor of DeLill Nasser, a long-time GSA supporter and National Science Foundation…

  • Carolyn Damilola headshot

    Carolyn Damilola: an NFS Rising Scientist on a lifelong quest to learn more

    Carolyn Damilola is an NFS Rising Scientist from Nigeria doing respiratory system research and paving the way for scientists from underrepresented communities through mentorship.

  • Text over a blue background image: Apply for up to $2,000 for your project from the Starter Culture Microgrant Program.

    What does a good microgrant proposal look like?

    Members of the Microgrant Review Committee share their tips for a successful proposal.

  • A blurred image of a human face is shown against a dark background.

    The first piece of the facial recognition puzzle

    New research in GENETICS gives a first peek at the molecular pathway involved in recognizing faces.

  • New Senior Editor Amy MacQueen joins GENETICS

    A new senior editor is joining GENETICS in the Genome Integrity and Transmission section. We’re excited to welcome Amy MacQueen to the editorial team.

  • Close up of an adult zebrafish with blue and white stripes in an aquarium with red lighting.

    Block party on the zebrafish sex chromosome

    Research in G3 identifies a gene regulatory block of the zebrafish genome responsible for overseeing the maternal-to-zygotic-transition.

  • Lemna Minor, the common duckweed

    Unraveling the mysteries of duckweed: epigenetic insights from Spirodela polyrhiza

    Research published in G3 offers insight into the impact of DNA methylation on clonal propagation in asexually reproducing plants.

  • Luciano Marraffini headshot

    A microbiologist’s quest to understand CRISPR in bacterial self-defense

    2024 Genetics Society of America Medal recipient Luciano Marraffini determined how CRISPR-Cas systems destroy genetic targets with precision, paving the way for gene editing technology development.

  • Elaine Ostrander headshot

    Unlocking mysteries of trait and disease heritability in dogs

    2024 Edward Novitski Prize recipient Elaine Ostrander, a pioneer of the domestic dog model, discovered numerous genes affecting dog size, morphology, behavior, and disease susceptibility—many of which have relevance in humans.

  • NSF-funded BIO-LEAPS Grant to Support Culture Change in Genetics

    GSA and collaborators Personal Genetics Education & Dialogue and Reclaiming STEM Institute launch NSF-funded BIO-LEAPS project to support culture change in genetics 

    We are thrilled to announce that the Genetics Society of America (GSA) is collaborating with the Personal Genetics Education & Dialogue (PGED) based in the Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, and the Reclaiming STEM Institute (RSI) on a Leading Culture Change Through Professional Societies of Biology (BIO-LEAPS) grant from the U.S. National Science…

  • Daman Saluja: Navigating Science and Policy in India

    In the Paths to Science Policy series, we talk to individuals who have a passion for science policy and are active in advocacy through their various roles and careers. The series aims to inform and guide early career scientists interested in science policy. This series is brought to you by the GSA Early Care­er Scientist…

  • Deborah Andrew headshot

    A fly geneticist’s journey into discovering rules of organ development

    2024 George W. Beadle Award recipient Deborah Andrew discovered new genes and pathways in Drosophila salivary gland organogenesis. Now, her work can help optimize cell secretion in therapeutic applications and fight malaria.

  • Małgorzata Gazda's headshot

    Małgorzata Gazda: How receiving the DeLill Nasser Award helped her land her dream job

    Have you ever experienced an event that changes the course of your life, or in this case, your career? Małgorzata (Gosia) Gazda is Assistant Professor at the University of Montreal and in 2022, she received the DeLill Nasser Award for Professional Development in Genetics, which she used to attend and present at the 2022 Population,…

  • Hongyu Zhao joins GENETICS as new Senior Editor

    A new senior editor is joining GENETICS in the Statistical Genetics and Genomics section. We’re excited to welcome Hongyu Zhao to the editorial team.

  • Julio Molina Pineda at TAGC 2024

    GSA Member Julio Molina Pineda Receives DeLill Nasser Award, Shines at TAGC 2024 

    “At any career stage, the GSA membership is an amazing investment for any genetics professional!” Julio Molina Pineda is a PhD Candidate in Cell and Molecular Biology and a Research Assistant at the University of Arkansas, and a Doctoral Academy Fellow at the Lewis Lab. In 2023, Julio was awarded the DeLill Nasser Award for…

  • Ed Grell at his dissecting microscope using ether to anesthetize his flies.

    In Memoriam: Ellsworth Herman Grell (1932–2023), a pioneer of Drosophila genome engineering and annotation

    Ellsworth (Ed) Grell blessed the Drosophila community through three enduring legacies: as a pioneer of chromosome mechanics, as a primary organizer and synthesizer of genetic knowledge in Drosophila, and as a graceful mentor to those fortunate to have known him personally. Ed grew up in rural Nebraska, completed his undergraduate studies at Iowa State, and…

  • Congratulations to the #Fungal24 Poster Award winners!

    We are pleased to announce the recipients of the GSA Poster Awards for posters presented at the 32nd Fungal Genetics Conference! Undergraduate and graduate student members of GSA were eligible for the awards, and a hard-working team of judges made the determinations. Congratulations to all! Felicia Ebot Ojong, The University of Georgia My research is focused…

  • Poster presentation tips for TAGC 2024

    You’ve been selected to present a poster at The Allied Genetics Conference 2024 in March—you’ve celebrated, made plans to attend, now what? This is an exciting opportunity to showcase your research and engage with fellow members of the genetics community, so you want to make sure you’re prepared. We wanted to offer you some tips…

  • Maximize your TAGC 2024 experience 

    A guide to all that National Harbor & DC have to offer Are you joining us for The Allied Genetics Conference 2024 in March? Make the most of your #TAGC24 experience in National Harbor! We know the science will keep you busy, but you deserve to unwind and have some fun, so we’ve curated a…

  • Early Career Leadership Spotlight: Sarah Petrosky

    We’re taking time to get to know the members of the GSA’s Early Career Scientist Committees. Join us to learn more about our early career scientist advocates. Sarah PetroskyMultimedia SubcommitteeUniversity of Pittsburgh Research Interest I am interested in understanding adaptation that has been happening recently in populations by dissecting the ways that genes underlying an adaptation…

  • TAGC 2024 Early Career Award Winners

    GSA is pleased to announce the winners of the early career awards presented at The Allied Genetics Conference 2024. These awards are specific to particular TAGC communities and recognize early career scientists’ outstanding work on their respective research organisms. The awardees will present their talks in keynote sessions at TAGC 2024.  Don’t miss the opportunity…

  • Preeminent geneticists recognized with revamped GSA Awards

    In 2022, GSA’s Board of Directors launched an audit to review the five major awards conferred by the Society. Today, we are thrilled to announce the recipients of the reimagined GSA Awards, including the new Genetics Society of America Early Career Medal. The scientists honored this year are recognized by their peers for their outstanding…

  • Fly Board funds outreach programs to spread the word about Drosophila research

    In 2020, the Fly Board voted to use part of its reserve fund to support efforts to increase trainee participation as well as equity and diversity in the Drosophila community. An awards committee decides how the money will be spent each year, and from 2020–2022, the committee posted a very broad call for applications from…

  • New members of the GSA Board of Directors: 2024–2026

    We are pleased to announce the election of four new leaders to the GSA Board of Directors: 2024 Vice President/2025 President Brenda Andrews Professor, University of Toronto It’s an honor to continue my association with the Society by serving as Vice President of the Board of Directors. I have broad knowledge of the ongoing activities…

  • The Fly Meeting is one-of-a-kind! Dros 2025 organizers share their excitement

    The 66th Annual Drosophila Research Conference promises to be a meeting rich with the latest in Drosophila research as well as opportunities to advance your career and connect with a global community of 1,400+ scientists. The organizers Todd Nystul, Michelle Bland, Leila Rieder, Amanda Crocker, and Justin Crocker are hard at work, planning a conference…

  • Early Career Leadership Spotlight: Olufemi Osonowo

    We’re taking time to get to know the members of the GSA’s Early Career Scientist Committees. Join us to learn more about our early career scientist advocates. Olufemi Adekunle OsonowoCareer Development SubcommitteeDalhousie University Research Interest Metabolomics and genomics are two distinct but complimentary approaches that offer valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of complex traits, such…

  • Early Career Leadership Spotlight: Hector Mendoza

    We’re taking time to get to know the members of the GSA’s Early Career Scientist Committees. Join us to learn more about our early career scientist advocates. Hector MendozaCommunication and Outreach SubcommitteeUniversity of Michigan Research Interest My research goals converge around the evolution of sexual reproduction. During my doctoral program, I investigated mitochondrial inheritance, a mechanism…