Day at Work: Ichthyologist (Fish Biologist)

Summary

Moises, a Ph.D. student at the University of Texas at Austin and an Ichthyologist at the California Academy of Sciences, shares his journey from Panama to becoming a fish biologist. His passion for marine biology was ignited by snorkeling and scuba diving in his youth. Moises focuses on fish genomics to understand evolutionary history and biodiversity. He discusses the challenges of being a non-native English speaker in academia and emphasizes the importance of writing skills. He also highlights the excitement of fieldwork and the joy of contributing to human knowledge.

Takeaways

• 🐠 Moises is a fish biologist and a Ph.D. student at the University of Texas at Austin, conducting research at the California Academy of Sciences.
• 🌊 His passion for marine biology was ignited during his childhood in Panama, where he spent time snorkeling and diving in coral reefs.
• 🏫 Moises overcame the challenge of English not being his first language, which was crucial for his academic and research pursuits.
• 🧬 His research focuses on the genome of fish to understand their evolutionary history and the reasons behind high fish diversity in certain regions.
• 📝 Writing is a significant part of being a scientist, and Moises emphasizes the importance of paying attention to writing and literature classes.
• 🔬 As a researcher, Moises conducts genetic analysis, statistical analysis, and writes up his findings for peers to understand.
• 🌳 Fieldwork is a thrilling aspect of being a biologist, where Moises collects samples and observes phenomena that spark questions for further research.
• 🤔 Observations in the field lead to the formulation of research questions, which Moises then seeks to answer through his studies.
• 🌐 Contributing to human knowledge, even in a small way, provides Moises with a deep sense of satisfaction and gratification.
• 📈 Ichthyology is a broad field with various sub-disciplines, including systematics, which studies the relationships between different fish species.

Q & A

What is the name of the person being interviewed in the transcript?

The person being interviewed is named Moises.

What is Moises' field of study?

Moises is a fish biologist, also known as an Ichthyologist.

Where is Moises conducting his research?

Moises is conducting his research from the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, despite being a Ph.D. student for the University of Texas at Austin.

What was Moises' experience with marine life before his formal education?

Before his formal education, Moises had experiences snorkeling in Panama, which sparked his interest in marine life.

How did Moises' scuba certification impact his career choice?

Getting scuba certified in high school cemented Moises' interest in marine biology and his decision to become a biologist.

What specific aspect of fish biology does Moises focus on?

Moises focuses on studying the genome of fish to understand their evolutionary history and the reasons behind high fish diversity in certain parts of the world.

What was one of the biggest challenges Moises faced as a researcher?

One of the biggest challenges Moises faced was that his first language is Spanish, which made writing and communicating in English very challenging initially.

How long did it take Moises to become comfortable with English?

It took Moises about a year to become comfortable with English.

What skills does Moises emphasize as important for a scientist?

Moises emphasizes the importance of good writing skills, as scientists spend a lot of time writing, as well as the ability to perform genetic analysis and statistical analysis.

What does Moises enjoy most about being a fish biologist?

Moises enjoys going to the field to collect samples and observing marine life, which often leads to asking questions and seeking answers that contribute to human knowledge.

What does Moises find satisfying about his work as a researcher?

Moises finds satisfaction and gratification in knowing that his work contributes to the general human knowledge, even if it's a small part.