Help deciding what path to take into marine biology.
Posted by 086vee@reddit | marinebiology | View on Reddit | 3 comments
My dream is to study marine biology, and eventually become a marine biologist.
Although it's over a year until I apply, I've decided on my favourite universities. There's a few different options and I just wanted to hear a bit more about which to choose.
I've seen a few "Marine Biology with Oceanography", which seems exciting, but I don't know if it's something I'm interested enough in - probably only actually doing it would be how to find out. I'd love an overview of the type of subjects within oceanography, compared to marine biology, if anyone has experience.
The university I like the most does a course which includes a year of "professional studies" (meaning working at a lab or somewhere else related). I'm wondering again what I can expect, as this one is particularly vague because it's outside of the curriculum, and could be a whole range of things.
I suppose it also made me worry a little about what I'd do after academia. I always knew I want to do something to help the planet, so marine conservation is the path I assumed I would follow. But, once again, I don't know what it entails.
I don't think I'm someone who can venture into the wild for a job - I'm more of someone who prefers being at my desk, and I imagine myself in a lab in the future, rather than diving or traveling regularly.
mandyrabbit@reddit
There is a massive future in looking at the micro stuff so plankton and very important hydrozoans and micro jellyfish. Things like benthic taxonomy is another potential lab based career
PhuckedinPhilly@reddit
I’m at Stockton and they have a pretty cool marine science program. The degree is marine science and then you can choose between bio or oceanography. There are a lot fewer marine biology programs for undergrad and most schools do a biology degree and then you can focus on marine in grad school. If you know for sure that this is what you want then I would go for a marine specific degree but if you’re not fully and a hundred percent sure that you’re ready to make crap money the rest of your life (haha) then I would stick with biology and go from there. I’m grateful I went to community college first cause I went through a lot of classes I wouldn’t have otherwise chosen and got some research (research, writing, and presenting) experience under my belt with general science before I transferred
pencilurchin@reddit
In hindsight I think your undergrad degree (if you know you’re going to go to grad school) is only important in making sure you’re setting yourself up well for a grad degree. Biology and chem majors are really solid base for grad school as it will help you cover the “harder” sciences that some of my marine science degree colleagues didn’t have when looking at grad schools and it limited the programs they could apply too. You absolutely do not need a marine biology or marine science undergrad to pursue marine biology. My undergrad was in biology. (And this is not me saying don’t do it - but if you end up having to pivot to a Bio degree that’s okay)
Undergrad research was a great thing for me, along with taking a break between undergrad and grad to work as a lab tech at several marine biology labs. Internships, co-ops, research , anything that gets you hands on experience outside of the classroom is HUGE (imo). Are any of your colleges tied to a NOAA SeaGrant program or have hands on opportunities for experiences. Eg University of Delaware is tied to SeaGrant, they do a ton of marine and environmental work and have plenty of opportunities to make connections. I can name a few schools on the east coast that I think all provide opportunities for more hands own experiences when it comes to marine bio/science. Also get scuba cert now if you can afford it (not only is it amazing experience I got turned down from jobs for not having it even if it was explicitly required for the job
My biggest regret is not spending more time to learn stats and math better and take a programing class since programing, modeling, data science and stats are extremely important for modern science.
There’s also social science side of any conservation work and having a minor or plenty of classes relating to social sciences (and how to perform social science research) can also be extremely helpful.
Something I tell almost every undergrad student I talk to is to be intentional with your undergrad major, but take the time in undergrad to learn. Learn what you like, learn what you hate, learn what you struggle with. If you’re doing poorly in a class try to find tutoring, retake it if you can. Go into undergrad with an idea of what you want to do, don’t limit your opportunities by settling on a single thing yet (even for pre-med, pre-vet I always recommend taking upper level bios and electives that expand your experiences).
I had a very chaotic go with the flow career path. I had no clue what I wanted to be in undergrad except I know I loved wildlife, ecology and conservation. Now I’m a masters student in a prestigious marine biology fellowship. If you stick with it YOU will work it out, you will find your niche and the things you’re passionate about. I also think marine biology can be very glamorized by other scientists and average people. I’ve had conversations where I tell people I’m marine biologist then as soon as they find out my specific field of study they immediately are like “oh so nothing actually cool” (bc I don’t work on sharks, corals, marine mammals or anything charismatic lol). It’s important to accept that not everything in the field is the mental picture people tend to have when they think of marine biology and that’s okay (I’m only ever a little envious of tropical marine biologists lmao). My niche ended up being oysters and aquaculture, and now I’m pivoting to policy and honestly spend more time thinking about renewable energy and carbon than the ocean some days.
Don’t obsess to much on the perfect school and program. Prioritize a program that can give you a wide range of experiences and ideally hands on experience.