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Question
i want to be a marine biologist for my fucher job.I want to spend my time gitting ready at a young age.the problem is that i dont live by or close to a shore.Is there a way for me to contine my studys im a fresh water place?Thank you for your time.
                               -harmony

Answer
Hi Harmony,

While living near the coast might make it easier to get involved with local marine activites, it is not necessary in order to become a Marine Biologist.  My recommendation would be to do well in your school's science, math and English classes.  If extracurricular science clubs or activities are offered by your school or town, I would recommend that you get involved with those as well.  If you live near fresh water - explore it!  You can also learn a lot on your own by reading books about marine biology.  Reading will give you a great background knowledge of the subject, which can help you get a head start with college topics you will study later.  Your goal right now should be to get into a college/university that offers a strong science program, including marine biology.  These schools will frequently offer opportunities for internships or volunteer work relating to marine biology.  

Here are a couple web sites that offer additional advice and information relating to becoming a marine biologist:

http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/marinebio/becoming.html

http://marinebiology.suite101.com/article.cfm/becoming_a_marine_biologist

I hope all of this has given you some good ideas on where to start in your journey toward becoming a marine biologist!

Thanks,
C

Biology

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Chris Bemis

Expertise

I will answer questions relating to the identification of bacterial and fungal isolates using phenotypic (macroscopic/microscopic appearance, biochemical bench tests, fatty-acid analysis) as well as genotypic (RiboPrinting) methods. I can also answer questions relating to environmental microbiology, especially those specifically relating to the pharmaceutical industry. I am less familiar with clinical microbiology.

Experience

I have worked within the biotech industry for 9 years, most of that time spent in a Quality Control Microbiology laboratory setting. Within the laboratory, I routinely performed bioburden testing; sterility testing; gel-clot and kinetic LAL testing; biological indicator testing; stability testing; microbial limits testing; media performance/growth promotion testing; microbial identifications testing using API, Vitek, MIDI (GC-MIS) and RiboPrinter identifications systems; total/fecal coliform testing; environmental monitoring; media preparation; stock culture maintenance; qualification of identification test kits and QuantiCult Plus organisms. I executed the QC validation of the DuPont Qualicon RiboPrinter Microbial Characterization System. I also supported sites internationally with the fungal/microbial identification process, the RiboPrinter assay, stock culture maintenance and the microbial identification process flow.

Organizations
Nationally Registered Microbiologist, American Society of Microbiology (2005)

Publications
Applied and Environmental Microbiology

Education/Credentials
B.S. in Microbiology (2000)

Awards and Honors
Received my company's 'Best Practice Award' for the Validation of the RiboPrinter Microbial Characterization System, 2004

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