I take care of the fish collection. In general, this means I make sure specimens are preserved and stored properly. I correct problems as I see them such as poorly sealed jars of specimens in alcohol, insect infestations in skeletons, etc. I process and catalog new collections and integrate them into the existing collections, which currently consist of about 800,000 specimens. Another big part of my job involves serving the people who use the collection, either as visitors or as recipients of specimen loans.

How did you become interested in your field?

Ever since I was a kid I had a huge love for animals. This ultimately led me to study zoology in college and grad school. I moved here after getting my M.A. and started volunteering at the Museum. In school I focused on mammals (my Master's degree focused on a Northern Great Basin species of pocket gopher) so my initial job here was in Mammals. But I've been in Fishes now for 10 years and I guess you'd have to say I like what I'm doing. I'd actually rather be back in California (my whole family is there), but one of the reasons I'm here is that I like my job.

What do you love about your work?

I like working with specimens and learning about fishes and the diversity of life. There are some amazing things in this collection. I also like organizing things. I like that there is a real variety in the tasks I do, so unless something is pressing I can pick and choose what to work on. I like the people I work with and I like the Museum.

I can think of a couple of role models. Jane Goodall was a big one for me when I first got interested in pursuing biology as a career. She really inspired me. Once I was in college I was lucky enough to be surrounded by many excellent, hard working biologists. My major professor, Jim Patton, especially comes to mind out of this group of people. He instilled in me a tremendous work ethic and set quality standards for me that I'll carry with me forever.

Do you see yourself as a role model?

I like to see myself as an example of someone having a biology career in a discipline people don't usually think of. I like to show parents and their kids that if you want to study biology or science, in general, becoming a doctor or a teacher aren't the only options.

My goals are to clean up the Fish Division and to be on top of things. Eventually I'd like to start devoting some of my free time to mammal research again.

Someday, when I make it back to California, I'd like to devote at least some of my time to more conservation-related projects. Working to help reclaim California wetlands interests me and I'm also startled by and concerned about over-fishing in the fishing industry. As vast as the oceans and their fauna may seem, some fish populations are being depleted. Other species are being caught and killed unnecessarily in the process of bringing in species that are targeted for human consumption.

Study what's enjoyable to you and don't worry about getting a job in the end. While it's a good idea to think about a future career, if you can become qualified to do something you really enjoy, you might be lucky enough to be paid to do that someday, instead of being stuck with a job that just brings in a paycheck.

I was lucky and had no parental pressure to do anything in particular in college, so I was able to follow my interests, but many people I knew felt pressure to live up to their parents expectations.

In other words, follow your own interests. Study what you want. It's a mistake to think you can take only one path, too. Interests change and so do your needs. Don't give in to the pressure of parents, teachers, and advisors. Don't feel that you owe them something; it's your career and your life.

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