Q&A
Make sure to read these before submitting a contact form please!
To help me better serve you, or point you in the right direction, please take a look at these commonly asked questions and have some answers in mind before you reach out. This will help me understand the kind of advice/information you are looking for and make sure you are getting the best possible assistance from my end.
I have always loved sharks, how can I start studying them?
To start, I need to know what schooling you have completed and your major. This can be anything from a high school diploma to a graduate degree in business. What I'm actually trying to figure out is how can you use the skills you currently have and use them in the world of shark science. There are plenty of jobs that either work directly with sharks or sharks is just one of the many research focuses. If your background is in engineering and you completed an undergraduate degree, there is no need to feel like you need to start from scratch. On the contrary! There are so many opportunities that could use your expertise to help elevate current/ongoing projects and your perspective will be valued!
Have you looked for resources on your own? As in, have you googled opportunities in your area of interest/your specific geographic location?
So, as a person living in the US I unfortunately do not know every person that works in shark science and this extends into the universities or grant opportunities in different countries. That being said, I would be more than happy to look over scholarship essays, cold emails, CVs, and anything else you are building as a person looking into shark sciences. If you send me your documents to look over, please make sure to also attach a link or posting of the requirements for the thing you are working on.
Do you have any research experience?
This does not need to be in a formal laboratory setting. What I mean is, do you have experience with working under some sort of supervisor of a project at an institution (University, NGO, Non-profit, etc.). Research also has a broad definition so to give you an idea of what research could look like, have you assisted in things like data collection? Data analysis? Coordinating other group members? These are all important roles in research, so if you've done any of these tasks then congrats! You've done research! Tell me a little bit about it!
I have experience in terrestrial biology but would like to move into marine biology, how do I do that?
This is kind of related to the previous question about research. Any and all research is important and carries value in whatever field you wish to pursue. Make sure to brag about yourself and your accomplishments regardless of whether you previously worked with fence lizards and want to move into coral reefs.
I have always loved sharks, how can I start studying them?
To start, I need to know what schooling you have completed and your major. This can be anything from a high school diploma to a graduate degree in business. What I'm actually trying to figure out is how can you use the skills you currently have and use them in the world of shark science. There are plenty of jobs that either work directly with sharks or sharks is just one of the many research focuses. If your background is in engineering and you completed an undergraduate degree, there is no need to feel like you need to start from scratch. On the contrary! There are so many opportunities that could use your expertise to help elevate current/ongoing projects and your perspective will be valued!
Have you looked for resources on your own? As in, have you googled opportunities in your area of interest/your specific geographic location?
So, as a person living in the US I unfortunately do not know every person that works in shark science and this extends into the universities or grant opportunities in different countries. That being said, I would be more than happy to look over scholarship essays, cold emails, CVs, and anything else you are building as a person looking into shark sciences. If you send me your documents to look over, please make sure to also attach a link or posting of the requirements for the thing you are working on.
Do you have any research experience?
This does not need to be in a formal laboratory setting. What I mean is, do you have experience with working under some sort of supervisor of a project at an institution (University, NGO, Non-profit, etc.). Research also has a broad definition so to give you an idea of what research could look like, have you assisted in things like data collection? Data analysis? Coordinating other group members? These are all important roles in research, so if you've done any of these tasks then congrats! You've done research! Tell me a little bit about it!
I have experience in terrestrial biology but would like to move into marine biology, how do I do that?
This is kind of related to the previous question about research. Any and all research is important and carries value in whatever field you wish to pursue. Make sure to brag about yourself and your accomplishments regardless of whether you previously worked with fence lizards and want to move into coral reefs.
