Tristan Weisenbach

August 9, 2024

Title & Department: Help Desk Technician, Information Technology

Year started at PPPL: 2022

Before arriving at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Rosemary Bethea was interested in technology but never considered pursuing it as a career.

As a help desk technician at the Lab, Bethea assists others when they encounter issues with their laptops and other electronic devices. However, it wasn’t until fairly recently that she honed her skills to become the technology specialist she is today.
 

From English teacher to Lab technician

Bethea is a true New Jersey native. She was born and raised in Trenton and graduated from Trenton Central High School. She attended Smith College in Massachusetts to earn a bachelor’s degree in government, and shortly after, she worked abroad in South Korea and Japan, spending one year in each country teaching English. 

Upon returning to the U.S., she landed back in Trenton, becoming a substitute teacher at Christina Seix Academy. However, it wasn’t until she stopped teaching and began a new job in publishing that she discovered her interest in technology, returning to school to obtain a certificate in network engineering from Mercer County Community College.

When she saw a job opening at PPPL, Bethea didn’t apply at first because she was nervous. After the job posting disappeared, she regretted not submitting an application. 

Luckily, she saw the same job posted again later, and a friend who works at Princeton University knew about the Lab and encouraged her to apply. She’s glad she did.

“I truly believe in the mission behind creating alternative energy sources here, and it’s really exciting for me to be a part of that effort,” Bethea said.
 

Family and fun

Bethea’s parents and older brother now live in North Carolina, where she visits them on special occasions and holidays. 

Outside of work, Bethea likes to read graphic novels and sew — she’s made a coat and a skirt and is working on a dress. She hopes she can soon get back into one of her former hobbies, krav maga, a form of martial arts. She also enjoys working at PPPL, describing the atmosphere like a quirky sitcom because of her close-knit relationships with her colleagues. 

“I think of it as ‘The Big Bang Theory’ and ‘The Office’ combined,” Bethea said.
 

Describe your job:

“My job is to resolve technology issues — whatever issues you may be having with your laptop, iPad and more. I help people get computer accounts set up at the Lab, too.”
 

What do you enjoy most about working at PPPL?

“I get to see a lot of the Lab. I get around to many places and meet so many people here. I don’t think a lot of people get that opportunity; they mostly work in the same general location.”
 

What has been your favorite experience at the Lab?

“I really enjoyed getting to speak with students from Trenton Central High School, where I graduated, while they were here for the Pathways to Fusion summer program. It was nice being able to see people who are where I was years ago.”
 

Three things about yourself:

1. “I experienced one of the world’s largest earthquakes in Japan on March 11, 2011.”
2. “In college, I rode horses and was on the equestrian team.”
3. “I enjoy watching Korean dramas.”