Career advancement from the field into data processing and analysis
Hey y'all,
I have been working as a field geophysicist for about 3 years now and I am really hoping to make a leap in my career into data processing and analysis. I got my BSc in Geophysics with a minor in math, worked for a company installing magnetotelluric equipment and learned a little bit about MT but not getting any hands on experience with the data side of things. I now work for a company using near surface EM methods for locating UXO, but I don't have any real access or ability to learn more about our data processing or analytics.
I now have an offer from my former employer to install MT equipment for geothermal energy exploration (which is the field I have always dreamed of working in and I will be taking that offer), but I am worried I am going to get myself stuck in the field forever. I want to have a clear path for career advancement, so I have been taking some online courses to gain skills with python, R, SQL, ArcGIS, and Oasis Montaj.
I am willing to continue full time field work for another year, maybe 2 at the most, but I want some advice on how to really break the barrier between the field and data processing/analysis.
I have also thought about going back to school for my masters in data science or geophysics but it is just not feasible for me to do that.