always wanted to ask a marine biologist questions about what they do?
People from all walks of life have asked The Fins United Initiative how they can become marine biologists or how they, too, can study sharks. Our founder, Melissa Cristina Márquez, has a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Marine Ecology & Conservation and a MSc in Marine Biology. Below she shares her story... and answers some frequently asked questions she and TFUI gets!
|
Melissa cristina mÁrquezfounder & Chief Executive OfficerI have always been fascinated by sharks and was privileged enough to get my scuba diving license back in 2009 (when I was a teenager), solidifying my want to study marine biology. I worked hard in high school and got accepted to New College of Florida in Sarasota, Florida where I was able to ‘create’ my own degree of Marine Ecology and Conservation. New College is unique in that it has the month of January off as an “ISP” (Independent Student Project) time that allows one to pursue local/international projects with the idea of it becoming a thesis in your last year. During these ISP’s I went to the Bimini Shark Lab (Bimini, Bahamas) and Ocean’s Research (South Africa) to work with sharks. During my undergraduate degree I also founded The Fins United Initiative (TFUI; formerly known as Sarasota Fins) and began doing scientific outreach on a national scale.
|
I was rejected from every graduate school I applied to! One day, I was on Facebook when I saw a graduate student post that her advisor was looking for a MSc student to study chimaeras. I applied, not thinking I would get the scholarship – and it turns out, I got in! My introduction to chimaeras and deep sea sharks was by pure accident, but I’m glad I took the opportunity. I moved across the world to study at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand in August 2015 graduated with my MSc in Marine Biology in 2016.
After my VISA in New Zealand ran out, my husband and I moved to Sydney, Australia where I have been keeping my side projects going (such as TFUI, my bilingual podcast ConCiencia Azul, writing a STEM series, appearing on TV, doing a TEDx talk, etc). My advice is get good grades, follow your passions, and try to volunteer with aquariums or museums that allow you to interact with the animals.
After my VISA in New Zealand ran out, my husband and I moved to Sydney, Australia where I have been keeping my side projects going (such as TFUI, my bilingual podcast ConCiencia Azul, writing a STEM series, appearing on TV, doing a TEDx talk, etc). My advice is get good grades, follow your passions, and try to volunteer with aquariums or museums that allow you to interact with the animals.
still have questions? keep scrolling!
where can i volunteer to get experience with marine animals?Do you live near an aquarium, zoo, or wildlife nature centre/reserve? How about near a natural history museum or science museum? These are some great places to start! Note- many places will not allow minors (under 18) to work with animals due to safety reasons.
The Fins United Initiative will also be coming out with a list of volunteer and internship opportunities in regards to working with sharks and their relatives. COMING SOON. what colleges do you recommend i go to?See if you can do a tour of the schools that interest you, possibly talk to a student or two about who their advisors are, what it's like to go to school there, sit in on a class or two, etc. Do you like where the school is located? Do you like the dorms, what the cafeteria serves, etc? This is a personal decision that you should not rely on strangers to decide for you. The Fins United Initiative will also be coming out with a worldwide list of universities that offer marine biology degrees. COMING SOON.
what classes should i take to become a marine biologist?Each high school has a set class curriculum in which you must take x amount of classes of x subjects to graduate. Follow your school's guide. Be sure to take science classes (especially any that deal with marine science), mathematics, English/writing, and more! I would be involved with any wildlife/marine groups your school or local area offers, too. This is a good conversation to have with your guidance counselor if you have one.
what volunteering/internships/experiences did you do when you were in high school?I was privileged enough to learn how to scuba dive in the British Virgin Islands with SeaTrek. Through them, I learned how to sail and was able to do my first marine biology research project (looking at coral bleaching).
how did you convince your parents to be okay with studying sharks?Not much convincing, to be honest. They supported my dream of being a marine biologist and while I'm sure they were (and still are) nervous about my working with sharks and possibly getting bit, they know it is a small chance that will happen and that I know what to do.
|
do you have to be a marine biologist to work at sea?what classes should i take in college to become a marine biologist?Each university has a set class curriculum in which you must take x amount of classes of x subjects to graduate. Follow your university's guide. Be sure to take science classes (especially any that deal with marine science), mathematics, English/writing, and more! I dabbled in some marine policy classes, took a class in ArcGIS, etc. This is a good conversation to have with your guidance counselor if you have one.
do i have to major in marine biology to eventually be one?Nope! I know many marine biologists who started out as "Biology" or "Zoology" majors. Some even did their PhD in "Zoology," "Ecology," or "Biology"!
what are the 'top four' subjects people should know well to succeed as a marine biologist?In my personal opinion, you need to be interested in science (obviously), and have a grasp of mathematics, English (science entails a lot of writing), and some sort of technology or coding. The last subject is because science is becoming interdisciplinary and knowing code (such as R Programming) or other technology (such as ArcGIS) can be beneficial, depending what you want to do.
can i still be a marine scientist if i am not good at math?Heck yes! I am awful at math (I still sometimes count using my fingers) and did not like Calculus I and II or Physics at all. But, I absolutely adored my statistics class and did pretty well in that. You don't have to be a whiz at math to be a scientist.
were all of your classes hard or easy?It depended the subject! I did fantastic with my science education class and fish biology lecture/lab but struggled with Calculus I and II as well as Organic Chemistry (in fact, I failed it the first time I took it). It's okay to not be great in every class- we all have weaknesses.
|
how did you choose the school you went to?As mentioned above, I stumbled upon this really interesting project I wanted to be a part of. While I discussed my interest with the project supervisor, I looked into Wellington, New Zealand and the school. While the city was smaller than other cities I've lived in, I had never gone to a big university before (my undergraduate was around 800 students total) and this intrigued me. I thought it would be a good change.
what school should i go to for my MSc or PhD?I'm a believer that you should apply to a school that has a lab you want to be associated with. Do your research: is the lab doing work you are interested in? What papers has the lab published recently? Where is the school located- is this a good locations? See if you can do a tour of the school and visit the lab, possibly talk to a student or two about who their advisors are, what it's like to work there, etc. This is a personal decision that you should not rely on strangers to decide for you.
what was the application process like for you?The application process for me may be different than your since I was applying as an international student. I already was accepted as the student to take on the project and get the scholarship, so applying was sort of a formality. I was asked for my transcripts, a copy of my diploma, show that I was proficient in English, send my passport details (for a VISA) and send two recommendation letters.
what was the hardest thing about your MSc?The hardest thing was going at it all alone. I didn't have any classes since my MSc was just a year of research and that meant I wasn't 'forced' to socialise with anybody. With three jobs (all necessary to keep a roof over my head and food in my belly) and a deadline to complete my degree (1 year), I wasn't allowed much 'me' time to enjoy living in a brand new country. It was really stressful and I wish I had gone to a therapist to talk about what I was dealing with - there's no shame in reaching out for help this way! I especially wish I had better work-life balance... I had none and it practically broke me (here are my tips for cheap date nights if you/your SO are in graduate school).
are you going to stop school after your msc or are you getting your phd? should i get my phd?I have definitely questioned whether or not I should pursue a PhD. For me, it is necessary for me to pursue my dreams. Whether or not you should get a PhD is up to YOU and you alone. You need to ask yourself, "Do you need to have a PhD to pursue your scientific endeavors?" See if you are pursuing a doctorate for the right reasons. And, don't assume that failing to obtain a PhD is the worst thing that could happen.
what do you wish you did differently in graduate school?I wish I had been a part of extra curriculars both in and out of university, so it wouldn't have been such a lonely and fast-paced experience. I wish I had been able to teach a class or help grade papers/review papers so I could have those skills under my belt. I wish I had more than one advisor.
|
how did you get to where you are?With a lot of hard work (I work close to 80 hour weeks), supportive friends and family, and great networking. Remember what they say: "What you see on social media is a highlight reel" and it is definitely that! You don't see the hundreds of cold e-mail's I send (many of which go unanswered), the rejections, the rough drafts of everything, etc. I'm lucky that since Day 1 I've had my parents support my dream, friends who have been cheerleaders and take care of me when I forget to (even from far away, friends send me care packages filled with my fave goodies), and a husband who encourages me to pursue my ambitions. I also am lucky to have friends from all around the world thanks to social media like Twitter and Instagram -- it has led to some amazing collaborations.
what's it like being a marine biologist?An adventure! I've been lucky enough to travel all over the world to study sharks and their relatives, and that means I've been able to lead a pretty incredible life. From seeing great white sharks breach in South Africa to nursing baby manatees back to health in Belize, swimming with sea lions in Mexico, looking for hammerheads and finding crocodiles in Cuba, and fishing for chimaeras in New Zealand... the list goes on! Even when I'm doing doing data analysis, I'm never bored.
what is your day-to-day like?No two days are alike! Some days I am getting up early/staying up late to do ConCiencia Azul podcast recordings, do TFUI Skype calls (learn more about those here), or go out into the field. If I'm in the field I can be there anywhere from a few hours to all day. Currently my days are normally spent behind a computer screen writing up results for papers I'm working on, and trying to re-learn R programming for some data analysis I'm doing.
are you afraid of being bitten by a shark?Nope! I've gotten pretty good at reading a shark's body language to figure out a) when it wants me to back up or b) it's time to get out of the water. I try to give sharks the respect they deserve by giving them ample space and never harassing them (holding on to their fins, riding them, etc.). In the years I have worked with sharks, I have never been bitten by one! I was bitten by another top predator, though...
are you always outside/on a boat as a marine biologist?No! That's a common misconception about marine biologists- we are NOT always out in the field (aka on a boat). Depending what you do in the marine sciences, you could have field work seasons where you spend a few months constantly outdoors. This is usually followed by months of being in the lab analysing data, behind your laptop screen writing up results, etc. It truly depends what your job is, but marine biologists aren't always on boats.
what's the hardest thing about your job?It can sometimes be lonely in both the physical sense (doing remote fieldwork) and in the sense of being a minority in the field. It can sometimes be cutthroat when it comes to funding and pushing out articles, but I have found it to be more positive than negative. I've surrounded myself with some amazing people who guide me as I progress, give constructive criticism, and cheer me on. I love my colleagues- both those I work with nearby and far away.
do you love your job?I get a lot of people who say, "Wow, you're a marine biologist?! That's what I wanted to be when I was little." I feel so privileged, humbled, and lucky to have the job I do. I love it -- and I wouldn't trade it for anything else in the world!
|
