 What is your current job and what does it entail?
I am a senior scientist at Mote Marine Laboratory (MML) in Sarasota, Florida, where I am director of the Center for Shark Research (CSR), one of seven research centers at MML. Mote is an independent, nonprofit marine research and education institution, and the CSR is the world's largest research organization dedicated to the scientific study of sharks and their relatives, the skates and rays. Our 10 doctoral scientists and staff of biologists, graduate students and undergraduate student interns conduct studies on sharks, skates and rays from molecular biology in the laboratory to behavioral and ecological studies at sea, from our back door in the coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico to distant sites around the world. As CSR director, I am responsible for the overall direction and administration of the shark center, including its scientific and educational activities as well as its budgetary and personnel needs. On top of that, I maintain my own shark research program, conducting studies of shark anatomy, physiology, behavior and ecology. Learn more at www.mote.org.
What was the key factor in your career decision?
My love for the sea and for the adaptations of marine organisms to life in the sea, along with a natural interest in science and math, all led me to this career path. I knew I wanted to be a marine biologist before I went to college, but it wasn't until my later college years that I developed a special interest in the biology of sharks, which I pursued in graduate school and beyond.
What do like most about your career?
That I and my staff are always learning, always growing and always helping to contribute to the body of scientific knowledge, whether it be by presenting a scientific paper, publishing a scientific article, conducting a television interview or talking with members of Congress. All of these help to move our field forward and improve the enlightenment of our species, which can only serve to contribute back to the marine environment and the organisms living in it. On a more personal level, I cherish my times on and in the water, and get paid to do some things that others work all year long for a couple of vacation weeks to do!
What do you like least about your career?
It can take so long to get at the needed answers. Logistics, technology and funding can either work for you or against you, but you keep on going despite the hurdles. I am working on one of the most difficult research animals on the planet -- but that's also what makes it so fun and rewarding when we discover something new.
What do you do to relax?
I spend time with my family in our country home in rural southwest Florida, with our children, dogs, birds, fish and two cows. My wife and I love to travel, often visiting exotic places while I'm on a trip to a scientific research site or meeting. And, sometimes it's just fun and relaxing to go to the movies or watch a sports event, too.
Who are your heroes/heroines?
"Hero" is a strong, often overused word in today's vocabulary. I respect and admire many people in my field, among them the leaders in the history of Mote Marine Laboratory who have made the institution what it is today. These include Dr. Eugenie Clark, the founding director of Mote who began the lab 50 years ago, and Dr. Perry Gilbert, who established the international reputation of the laboratory for advanced scientific research. I am following in these scientists' footsteps, and they are very big footsteps indeed. Beyond that, I would say that I have many heroes and heroines in my own family, including my wife for her natural ability to care for others, and our three sons -- the oldest for his dedication to his family and the gift of our first grandchild, the middle for his personal sacrifice in the military in troubling times, and the youngest for his straight As combined with wonderful humor and personality.
What advice would you give a high school student who expressed an interest in pursuing a career in your field?
The one thing I tell all high school students interested in a career in marine biology is to go to the best college or university they can get into and take the best curriculum in basic science, math and liberal arts. Don't take a shortcut to marine biology and skip the basics, because to be a good marine biologist, you have to be a good biologist first. If you have what it takes to become a career research scientist in marine biology, you will go on to study those things in graduate school. At least a master's degree, and preferably a Ph.D., is a must for directing and conducting your own independent research program.
Are career opportunities in your field increasing or decreasing and why?
After a number of years of relative stability, opportunities in the field now appear to be on the increase with a new emphasis on ocean health and on the sustainability of ocean resources and a growing global awareness of science and the environment. Plus advances in technology are forging new opportunities in research every day.
What will you be doing 10 years from today?
I hope to continue playing a leadership role wherever I can contribute to the advancing of our field and help the young, bright members of our science get the opportunities and find the resources they need to succeed.
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