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 Pinniped and Penguin Trainer, Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration
General Career Information…
What is your educational background?
I attended Roger Williams University in Rhode Island. I have a bachelor’s degree in marine biology and a bachelor’s degree in psychology. The biology is helpful when working with animals, but the psychology degree really helps me with the training I do every day. How did you end up in the field you are in today?
I knew from a very young age that I wanted to work with animals. However, I never considered working with penguins. I really wanted to work with whales and dolphins. Now that I work with penguins, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else! What is a typical day like for you?
People would be surprised by the day in the life of an animal trainer. It sounds like a ton of fun hanging out with animals all day! Realistically, we only spend about 10 percent of our day with the animals. Most of the day is spent doing food prep, record keeping, and a lot of cleaning. You get very dirty and smell like seafood all the time. But the time we spend with the animals makes it all worth it! What do you like the best about your job, and what do you like the least about your job?
Of course working with the animals is the best part of my day. But my favorite thing is when you make a huge breakthrough with an animal on the behavior you are training. The moment in which the animal clearly understands what you are asking it to do is the best moment in the world! I also love being able to teach people about animals and how to preserve our planet so we have animals like penguins for generations to come! The thing I like least about my job would have to be….getting pooped on by the penguins! That just comes with the job though! What advice would you give to kids who are interested in a career like yours?
Never give up. This is a very difficult field to get into. There is a lot of competition for jobs and very few jobs available. If you work hard and stick with it, you can get there! Just don’t give up! Also, try and get involved as soon as you can by volunteering at facilities like Mystic Aquarium. It will make a big difference on your resume! On Penguins… How and where do you conduct your work with penguins?
I usually work right here at the Mystic Aquarium with our colony of 28 African Penguins. (Can you believe this is my job?!) However, I was recently sent by Mystic Aquarium to South Africa to work with researchers in the field studying the penguins. (Again, can you believe this is my job?!) What tools and/or technologies do you use in your work with penguins?
We need to be proficient in computers. We use computer programs like Microsoft Excel every day for record keeping and data entry. Otherwise, I would say the best tool we use every day is of course our brain! To work with animals you need to have a lot of common sense and be able to think and react very quickly. This job does not come with a step-by-step "how to" manual. A lot of what we do is making smart decisions on the spot. What research projects related to penguins are you currently involved in?
Mystic Aquarium is very involved in numerous penguin projects. Mystic Aquarium most recently has partnered with Georgia Aquarium and SANCCOB facility in South Africa on the African Penguin Health Survey. We are working together to collect data from several African Penguin colonies to try and understand what is happening to the populations. What have you learned so far from your work with penguins?
.Patience. Patience is the most important tool in your belt when you interact with penguins. What is the most interesting or exciting thing that has happened during your work with penguins?
Definitely going to Africa! We try to do what we can to make a difference in the world through education around our animals and programs at Mystic Aquarium. But going to the source of the problem, seeing it first-hand, and doing what I could to help on site...now that was truly life-changing! On Being a Kid... What kinds of books did you like to read when you were a kid? Why?
When I was a kid I read a little bit of everything. Now that I am a big kid, I love Harry Potter! I love the imagination and the creativity in those books! What was your favorite subject when you were in middle school?
Anything but math--I had the worst time with numbers! What did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
I was eight years old when I went to my first aquarium. I knew right away that working with marine animals was what I would be doing when I grew up! What advice do you wish that someone had given you when you were a kid?
I had a great family and support system. But I would say to kids today, just don’t be afraid to be who you are! Think outside the box, be different, and don’t let anyone make you feel bad about it! The kids who get made fun of for being different always grow up to be the most creative and extraordinary people! |
