No one else ponied up to this question, so I'll start.:

I'm an environmental biologist, but I don't think I'm like most of the biologists that frequent this sub. I studied zoology, but I remediate hazardous waste. Whenever someone finds historical waste from decades' old dumping, I go there. If a pipeline busts, I go there. If a natural disaster strikes and spreads tanks, drums, and household containers across the countryside, I go there. If someone has a problem with haz waste, I help them.

Most of my work involves soil and water - characterizing a site through sampling and then we figure out the best way to remediate the site. Sometimes I get involved with restoration work and planning, sometimes I help clear any threatened and/or endangered species before work begins. The end goal is to make a site clean that meets standards that exceed ecological and human use.

Sometimes its fun. I've found over the years that the teams I work with matter more than the work itself. The end goal is always the same, so it's nice when you have an intelligent, vigilant, dedicated, fun group of people to work with. I like learning on the job from other people. Those are the best "Ah-ha" moments - learning the tricks of the trade.

I did a few years in the health care industry and found that wasn't the industry for me. I've also found that I'm more a project chaser than an industry or company man. I like big, complicated, hazardous jobs. If one of those is out there, that's where I like to be. Much of my job means keeping my clients out of the newspaper or evening news. If I do my job right, everyone is safe, healthy, and goes home at the end of the day.

There are a lot of people in my line of work that don't like doing what I do. And that's fine. They like to sit behind a desk all day. They don't want to go out the field. They don't like the risk. They don't like the liability. The work needs to be done though and it can be done safely.

If I could do anything differently? I would have paid more attention in Organic Chemistry. During college, it was just so beyond me. I think in part because my profs were always these high end analytical chemists and/or chemical engineers. Now? I use it every damn day. I didn't know the questions I should have been asking during lecture and my chem labs. But I think most people will see that break between academia and industry.