About Lindsey Visser Expertise I would love to help you with your questions relating to oceanography, global warming, marine biology, microbial ecology, and marine botany. I can also help with any questions about taxonomy of marine species. If I cannot answer a question, I will look it up or point you in the right direction.
Experience I have a B.S. in marine biology, and am working on a M.S. in oceanography. I am FDA certified for the bacteriological examination of seawater and shellfish. I have experience in working in a microbial ecology lab, culturing marine phytoplankton, and species identification. I have spent time doing oceanography research at sea aboard a NOAA ship.
Education/Credentials B.S. in Marine Biology from Texas A&M University
M.S. in Oceanography expected 2008 from Texas A&M University
Question QUESTION: Hello, im a student from Plymouth University in the U.K. about to start my second year of marine biology and oceanography. I am doing well in the course and enjoying the oceanography side very much, but theres a few things troubling me. Im not really sure what i should be doing to help my career. What extra things could i be doing to help me get a head start when i leave university? Also what is it like being a full time oceanographer? Do you have long hours or spend months on a ship? What sort of research do you get to do? How much choice is up to you about the type of research you are doing?
I know these may seem like stange questions but its just simple things that i havent been informed about fully by people and would like to know. Any information would be really great, thank you
ANSWER: Hi Dale
The fact that you are thinking about these things already is great to hear, and this concern will help you become successful in your field. At this stage of the game I would highly recommend getting to know your Professors. Choose a couple that you like/ or whose classes you like, and go and see them after class. Ask them questions about class, ask for supplemental reading, and most importantly ask if they have any volunteer or student worker positions available in their lab. Even if it's cleaning glassware to start, you will eventually gain valuable lab experience which is what helps get you into grad school or get a good job. It's all in who you know (and in keeping your GPA at least above a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) Field work is also very valuable, so start making a list of all the sampling techniques you are learning, places you've been- if you can, try to volunteer for any boat trips your school takes, and also write down lab techniques you've learned. This is important when making your Curriculum Vitae (a scientists' version of a resume). I remember when i made mine just out of college i had forgotten which techniques i had learned in my labs, and i wished i had kept better track.
Being a full time oceanographer is very rewarding in this day in age. There are so many climate change issues that still need to be studied, i think it's an excellent time to enter into this field. Sometimes the hours are long, but unless you are working on a Ph.D. or you are a professor, the hours are like any other job. I get to go to sea for various amounts of time- I've been out for a month before, but last week i just went out for a week into the Gulf of Mexico. I do know people who are on a research cruise in the Indian Ocean for 60 days, but that is probably the longest I've heard about. Oceanographers strive to be at sea- usually we count down the days until we get to go out again. It is an amazing feeling to be in the middle of the ocean cut off from society for a while (most ships have the Internet though). The research I am doing right now is looking at nitrous oxide (a greenhouse gas) production in the Mississippi dead zone (the hypoxic area off the mouth of the Mississippi delta). You have unlimited choices on what you get to research- but the most important thing is that if you are going to grad school, choose your advisor based upon their current and upcoming research. You will get to research what is within the scope of the professors field, and they will guide you along in finding a project that you are excited about. For example, if you want to study nitrogen cycling, don't chose an advisor that only studies carbon cycling. Also, check out their lab and see what kind of equipment they have that is available to use. If you let me know what you are starting to be interested in i can tell you what kinds of things to look for. I appreciate your enthusiasm, let me know of anything else i can do for you!
Lindsey
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QUESTION: Thanks, i will be talking to my professors more and asking to help with labwork, and keeping a list of the skills i have learned. We dont have grad schools in the u.k. but there is an optional 4th year to our course called a masters which is open to a few students and helps to get a job after which i will be aiming for.
At the moment im really interested in global currents. I recently done a essay/talk and i chose to do the gulf stream. I was absolutely fascinated by it and found it one of the most interesting things i have learnt about. Im thinking of doing my third year dissertation on this subject, although im not sure how yet. But i dont have to choose till the end of my second year so i have enough time to think about it or change my mind.
Answer Excellent- global currents are very interesting and definitely important with the changing climate. This work might involve a lot of computer modeling and analyzing, you may want to look into the computer oriented side of current profiling to make sure you are interested. Good luck!
