How can I build a career in shark science?
SHOW NOTES
Starting out on your own career journey can be a little daunting, which is why we’ve put together this special episode of World of Sharks, filled with advice, experiences and anecdotes from the guests of season 4. We talk about how to make your dreams of working in shark science and conservation a reality – from how to approach professors, to finding your niche, to overcoming setbacks and staying true to yourself.
We start with some advice from Dr Lauren Eve Simonitis, an aquatic sensory biologist who came on the podcast to teach us all about shark noses and sense of smell [5.17]. Although Lauren is focussed on shark snoots, she advised to not discount the value of fields that study wider ocean processes like physical oceanography, biological oceanography and chemical oceanography. These kinds of studies are so important to understanding how animals interact with their environment, and are incredibly prevalent in Lauren’s lab. Lauren also advises to not get too hung up on sharks at first. Funding for shark research is quite competitive, but sharks are fish – and there are a lot more opportunities to study fish in a more general sense. The skills, knowledge and techniques you can gain from a fish system will be applicable to sharks. Additionally, paid positions are rare, so take them even if they aren’t directly focussed on sharks. Find your niche first, hone your craft, get paid for your work, then specialise in sharks when the opportunity presents itself. If you’ve listened to Lauren’s episode, you’ll know she’s always on the lookout for fellow sensory biologists to join her lab!
Professor Mahmood Shivji’s advice is in the same vein [8.24]. Mahmood is the director of the Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Research Centre at Nova Southeastern University, Florida, and came on the podcast to talk to us about shark DNA and genetics. In Mahmood’s experience, the fascination with genetics came before the focus on sharks. And like Lauren, Mahmood advises prospective students that while having a passion and dedication for sharks is important, the first step should be to find a specific discipline – like chemistry, or genetics, or ecology – and build your knowledge and strengths in that discipline before applying those principles to sharks.
That being said, many of our guests have been driven to work in shark science and conservation by the sheer determination to work with sharks, and to help resolve the many issues threatening their survival. Franco Cristiani, SOSF project leader, came on the podcast to discuss his PhD research into the effects of marine pollutants on chondrichthyans. During our chat, Franco expressed that his love for sharks has carried him through his entire career [12.16]. Something that has been important for him is taking time out of studying to spend time out at sea with these animals, to remind him of why he is pursuing a career in biology in the first place. This has led Franco to volunteer for projects all over the world, including working as a shark guide and in an initiative to reduce pressures on whale sharks from tourism activities in the Philippines. Having spent two years at a desk studying, Franco was thrilled to be out in the field, contributing to whale shark conservation. He has found these experiences to be important in building skills and knowledge, which he felt made him more attractive as a prospective PhD student. And, it kept that spark lit. Science can be great, and fieldwork is the best part – but a lot of research is sitting behind a desk. For Franco, having those experiences outside of academia cemented for him that science was the right path for him.
So we’ve talked about applying knowledge and techniques from certain scientific disciplines to sharks, but what about skills from other jobs and experiences [20.01]? Rob and Henriette, research and programme directors for the Save Our Seas Foundation D’Arros research centre in Seychelles, came on the podcast to talk about translating research into conservation action. Both Rob and Henriette have had extremely varied careers, working across different sectors in science and conservation including veterinary sciences, marine spatial planning and conservation policy. Their advice is to not worry if you aren’t exactly where you want to be; diversions and detours aren’t bad things, as they will all give you a valuable and unique skillset that you can carry with you. All of Henriette and Rob’s experiences led them to landing their jobs at D’Arros – without such a varied skillset, they possibly wouldn’t have been qualified to take on the hugely diverse roles that the D’Arros Research Centre demanded. Henriette and Rob also emphasise that it is completely normal to not have a linear career trajectory. Henriette originally wasn’t too interested in marine science or sharks, and Rob also wasn’t academically focussed until his later years at University. He even says that he almost failed his first year of undergraduate, which gave him quite the reality check! It wasn’t until they both arrived at the Bimini Shark Lab in the Bahamas that they settled on a career in marine and shark conservation.
A detour is what led our next guest into his current job as a research scientist studying the world’s oldest living vertebrate [26.50]. Julius Nielsen, who came on the podcast to teach us all about the fascinating world of the Greenland shark, only started working with the species by a happy accident. As a biology student, Julius had taken on a summer job monitoring shrimp stocks aboard a vessel in Greenland. While at sea, Julius encountered many animals for the first time that he was amazed by, including the Greenland shark. He overhead a conversation about another vessel, who was attempting to survey Greenland sharks specifically, and decided the next year that he would like to join. Luckily he got a place on board, and the following year headed out to do just that. Julius then spent a few months out looking for Greenland sharks, and remembers finding large individuals of up to 4m in length. He was fascinated, but the thought of studying them never crossed his mind until one fateful day when in a lecture, back at university. The lecturer was a researcher who was aiming to age the Greenland shark. During his talk, he mentioned that they had managed to sample every size class except one – the larger adults, of around 3-4m. Because of his experiences the year previously, Julius knew exactly where he could find some and put up his hand. What followed was years of discussions and meetings, which led to Julius’ masters and eventual PhD thesis on the longevity of the species.
But what if you aren’t able to get out at sea and encounter animals in the wild? Or, what if you have no idea where to start? Luz Erandi Saldaña Ruiz, a fish biologist who came on the podcast to chat about chimaeras and sustainable fisheries, believes strongly that being curious and asking questions is a good way to start [32.06]. Approaching scientists and professionals in the field you’d like to be in can be a little daunting, but most of the time people are only happy to talk with you and share their knowledge. Luz advises emailing or approaching people at conferences, and trying not to worry about saying the wrong thing or making a mistake – you are just at the beginning of your journey, and there is no such thing as a stupid question! And, while building your CV might seem of high importance, Luz also advocates taking care of your own mental health as your first priority. Life isn’t just about meetings or study, you also need to make sure you are factoring in activities that make you feel happy, healthy and fulfilled.
Kara Yopak is also a staunch believer in the power of being curious and asking questions [35.04]. Kara studies shark comparative neuroanatomy, and has her own lab focussed on shark neural systems – in simpler terms, Kara is an expert shark brains! Kara started her career journey by reading everything she could about sharks, including books and scientific papers. She found that this helped her to understand where there were gaps in our knowledge about sharks, and where she could create a niche for herself. And, like Luz, Kara says approaching and talking to people in the profession can be very helpful, even though it can be scary – but, in her experience, most people working on sharks are extremely friendly and only too happy to help! She suggests attending scientific meetings and conferences to get a feel for what research is out there, network, and maybe even figure out what team or lab feels right for you. Kara also advises…not to take everyone’s advice! She says that it is very important to listen to your gut, and do things that you feel in your heart to be right for you. Kara has received ‘bad’ advice in the past, including whether or not she should work with sharks and even what clothing that she should wear as a researcher. So, you don’t have to listen to everything – take what you need, and what speaks most to you.
So, you’ve done your reading, reached out to other professionals, chosen a discipline that feels right for you, thought about how your existing skillset could be applicable to sharks…but what if you’re still not where you want to be? Getting rejected is more common than you think in science and conservation, but it can still be really tough to handle and sometimes you have to dig deep and be resilient. Chris Pepin-Neff – who is now a senior lecturer in public policy at the University of Sydney – was always incredibly passionate about sharks and knew they wanted to study the politics of shark ‘attacks’, but hit a roadblock while trying to get funding for their PhD. Chris remembers being told their project was “crazy” and that it was unlikely they’d find funding for it, by scientists they admired. Slowly, they worked their way through an email list of 60 people, getting knock-backs with every response. But Chris believed in themselves and the project, and just decided to “go for it”. They took out student loans to fund their first year and flew to Sydney, Australia to meet with the Dean of Arts at the University of Sydney to ask for the remainder of the funding they needed. While the Dean was sceptical at first, he was won around by Chris’ determination and perseverance. Chris says, “I told him that I was going to do great things, and you’re going to be really happy by the end of this!” [44.51]. And the rest, as we say, is history. Another important facet to this story is that, along this journey, Chris did meet people along the way who supported their dreams. Chris says that now they encourage students to think outside the box, and try things that haven’t been tried before. Everyone’s journey looks different, and sometimes you do have to carve your own path.
If you’re interested in learning more about funding, grants and fellowships, we have an episode with funding-specific advice that you can listen to here: https://saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/podcast/grants-101-tips-for-getting-your-project-funded
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND INFORMATION
Save Our Seas Foundation grants: https://saveourseas.com/grants/funding-applications/small-grants/
Save Our Seas Foundation D’Arros Research Center: https://saveourseas.com/sosf-darros-research-centre/
Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Research Center: https://saveourseas.com/sosf-shark-research-center/
Shark Conservation Fund small grants: https://www.sharkconservationfund.org/small-grants/
Bimini field station: https://www.biminisharklab.com/
Field School, directed by Dr Catherine Macdonald: https://www.getintothefield.com/
Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS): https://www.misselasmo.org/
Black in Marine Science: https://www.blackinmarinescience.org/
Latinx in STEM: https://latinxinstem.education/
Atlantic White Shark Conservancy’s Gills Club: https://www.gillsclub.org/
Women in Ocean Science: https://www.womeninoceanscience.com/
Sharks4Kids: https://www.sharks4kids.com/
Marine Social Sciences Network: https://www.marsocsci.net/
