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 Senior Education and Research Specialist, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI)
General Career Information…
What is your educational background?
I have an AB (Bachelor of Arts) degree from UC Berkeley and a PhD degree from UCLA.
How did you end up in the field you are in today?
My interest in the ocean started with a fifth-grade workshop on one of the Channel Islands--where I first put on a snorkel and mask. What is a typical day like for you?
The fun part is that there is no such thing as a typical day ;-). What do you like the best about your job, and what do you like the least about your job?
What I like the best is the ever-changing aspect -- I never know what is coming up next. As for what I like the least, I can't think of a darn thing! What advice would you give to kids who are interested in a career like yours?
My advice would be to take advantage of any and all opportunities that you can. Don’t specialize too much too early in your career. We need people with a wide variety of expertise and backgrounds. On Jellies… How and where do you conduct your work with jellies?
I’ve been lucky enough to study jellies all over the world from tropical areas to polar areas and from shallow waters to the deep sea.
What tools and/or technologies do you use in your work with jellies?
Jellies are great. I can study them using mask and snorkel, scuba gear, human-occupied submersibles, and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). We often collect jellies and bring them into the laboratory for more detailed examination. What research projects related to jellies are you currently involved in?
I am working on some deep-sea jellies that all look similar (we call them “little red jellies”), but they represent several different groups. We are looking at their morphology (what they look like), their behavior, their distribution (where they live), and their DNA.
What have you learned so far from your work with jellies?
I have learned that there are a lot of jellies out there and that there are probably many new species waiting to be discovered. What is the most interesting or exciting thing that has happened during your work with jellies?
I find jellies so interesting that this is a hard question. Every time I start looking at a new jelly, I find new interesting and exciting things.
On Being a Kid... What kinds of books did you like to read when you were a kid? Why?
I liked the Hardy Boys, science fiction, and anything else that was interesting, thought-provoking, and a good story. What was your favorite subject when you were in middle school?
My favorite subjects were math and science. What did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
I had no clue. What advice do you wish that someone had given you when you were a kid?
Take advantage of opportunities. I was lucky in that my parents did the looking and signing up for me. On the Rest of Life... Who are some of the people you look up to or admire?
I admire fellow researchers and authors -- those who write well. When you are not working, what do you like to do for fun?
I like to spend time with family, read, and play volleyball. Do you have any final thoughts or words of advice that you would like to share?
Find something that you are interested in and follow your interests! |
