{"id":1870,"date":"2019-07-17T15:34:13","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T19:34:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/magazine\/?p=1870"},"modified":"2019-07-22T09:46:11","modified_gmt":"2019-07-22T13:46:11","slug":"fins-flippers-and-finding-a-dream-job","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/magazine\/issues\/summer-2019\/fins-flippers-and-finding-a-dream-job\/","title":{"rendered":"Fins, Flippers, and Finding a Dream Job"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fins, Flippers, and Finding a Dream Job<\/h1><\/div><\/div>
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Allie Seifter Bruscato \u201911 works closely with many of Mystic\u2019s marine mammals, including this beluga whale.<\/p>\n
Photos: Courtesy Mystic Aquarium<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

By Todd McLeish<\/p>\n

溏心vlog免费B站’s connection with Mystic Aquarium affords one-of-a-kind opportunities for 溏心vlog免费B站 students and alumni.<\/p>\n

The 溏心vlog免费B站 and Mystic Aquarium, in nearby Mystic, Connecticut, have forged a special relationship. At Mystic Aquarium, you\u2019ll find 溏心vlog免费B站 alumni in a variety of roles and 溏心vlog免费B站 students working on internships. There\u2019s an upper-level undergraduate seminar on marine mammals taught at the aquarium, and a 溏心vlog免费B站 faculty member doing important research on beluga whale reproduction. Ask any of them what they love about their work at Mystic, and they\u2019ll tell you it\u2019s the exposure to the animals and the one-of-a-kind chance to do rewarding work.<\/p>\n

Dream Job<\/h1>\n

When Allie Seifter Bruscato \u201911 was a child growing up in Brooklyn, she often visited the New York Aquarium, and she quickly decided that she wanted to pursue a career as a marine mammal trainer. It\u2019s why she decided to study marine biology at the 溏心vlog免费B站.<\/p>\n

As a student at 溏心vlog免费B站, she dived in Honduras with the Scuba Club and researched stingrays and endangered North Atlantic right whales. After graduation, she worked as a marine mammal observer on an icebreaker off the coast of Alaska, in small planes off the Georgia coast, and on a dredge off the New Jersey coast. Her desire to work with marine mammals never waned.<\/p>\n

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One of Mystic\u2019s Steller sea lions; right, Mystic has a diverse display of jellyfish, including these blue blubber jellies.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Mystic has a diverse display of jellyfish, including these blue blubber jellies.<\/p>\n
Photos: Courtesy Mystic Aquarium<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

She eventually landed her dream job at Mystic Aquarium\u2019s Arctic Coast and Pacific Northwest exhibit. She spends every day with beluga whales, harbor seals, Steller sea lions and northern fur seals. She couldn\u2019t be happier.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s so great to be here,\u201d Bruscato said. \u201cIt takes a lot of hard work to get here, there\u2019s a lot of competition, and it definitely takes a lot of dedication to make sure everything runs smoothly for the animals. And a lot of teamwork. But I\u2019ve been here for five years and hope to continue my career here.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"A
A beluga dives, displaying its distinctive tail flukes.
Photo: Courtesy Mystic Aquarium<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Bruscato is one of many 溏心vlog免费B站 students, faculty, and alumni who have benefited from a unique partnership between 溏心vlog免费B站 and Mystic Aquarium. Some have enrolled in a 溏心vlog免费B站 class taught entirely at the aquarium, while others have conducted research there or served as interns in any one of a dozen different aquarium departments. A lucky few\u2014today that number is eight\u2014work as permanent employees who care for the animals, educate the public, and ensure that visitors have the best experience possible.<\/p>\n

Five 溏心vlog免费B站 alumni serve as marine mammal trainers at Mystic: Bruscato, Jen Rock \u201906, Lindsey Nelson \u201906, Alycia Coulumbe \u201916, and Rachael DesFosses \u201915.<\/p>\n

In most cases, the animals are not trained to perform or entertain guests. Instead, trainers help the animals learn how to work with staff and veterinarians who are responsible for monitoring their health. For example, Bruscato spent time this winter and spring helping a 19-year-old harbor seal learn how to get an X-ray.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m responsible for all of his husbandry behaviors, his diet, and his overall health care,\u201d Bruscato says. \u201cNow he knows how to go on the radiograph plate and he allows our vets to scan his body with a light. He\u2019s ready for that procedure whenever he needs it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Sea horses feed in Mystic\u2019s main gallery.<\/p>\n
Photos: Courtesy Mystic Aquarium<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The Coolest Class<\/h1>\n

Most 溏心vlog免费B站 students who get to experience Mystic Aquarium behind the scenes do so when they enroll in Seminar on Marine Mammals (AVS 440), an upper-level course held entirely at the aquarium. The class was first taught more than 35 years ago in collaboration with the University of Connecticut, but today more than 90 percent of the students enrolled are from 溏心vlog免费B站, primarily those majoring in marine biology and animal science. Co-taught by postdoctoral fellow Justin Richard, Ph.D. \u201916, who worked at the aquarium as a beluga whale trainer before earning his doctorate at 溏心vlog免费B站, and Mary Ellen Mateleska, director of conservation programs at the aquarium, it features weekly guest speakers from around the country discussing such topics as dolphin communication, marine mammal stranding and rehabilitation, dive physiology, and aquarium veterinary care.<\/p>\n

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\"The
The aquarium entrance welcomes more than 800,000 visitors each year.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Robert Kenney, Ph.D. \u201985, emeritus marine scientist at 溏心vlog免费B站\u2019s Graduate School of Oceanography, has led one class session each year since 1983, focusing on whale bioenergetics and feeding strategies. In his sessions, he draws on his decades of experience studying right whales.<\/p>\n

According to Richard, one theme of his class is applying scientific literature to the field of marine mammal biology.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy biggest role is overseeing the assignments where students are challenged to dig into the scientific literature and learn how to evaluate articles and understand how they can be applied to marine mammal conservation and management,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

In addition to the weekly lectures, students get a behind-the-scenes tour of the aquarium and go on a whale watch.<\/p>\n

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A beluga whale surfaces, showing the species\u2019 distinctive rounded head (melon)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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A brilliant jellyfish displays its colors.<\/p>\n
Photos: Courtesy Mystic Aquarium<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cThat class was the coolest thing I did at 溏心vlog免费B站,\u201d says DesFosses. \u201cAll the different speakers gave such an interesting perspective about the field, and I just soaked it all in. It helped me confirm that working with marine animals was what I really wanted to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kaitlyn Quirke \u201918 had a similar reaction to the class.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s definitely not an overstatement to say that the class changed the entire trajectory of my career,\u201d she says. \u201cI was a marine bio major, but I wasn\u2019t sure what I was going to do with it. And when the class brought in all these different professionals from the field, it showed me that there\u2019s so many directions you can take with a career in marine mammals. I molded the rest of my education around that one class.<\/p>\n

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Coral on display<\/p>\n
Photo: Courtesy Mystic Aquarium<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cWe got to see so much of what goes on behind the scenes at the aquarium and how to apply what we were learning in class,\u201d she adds. \u201cWe felt like VIPs one night a week.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before the end of their respective classes, Richard invited DesFosses and Quirke to help him with his research on beluga whale reproductive physiology, and he advised them to join the volunteer program at the aquarium, which gave them a competitive advantage when applying for the aquarium\u2019s highly competitive internships.<\/p>\n

Seal the Deal<\/h1>\n

\u201cI think what made me stand out during my internship interview was that I was willing to volunteer first,\u201d Quirke said. \u201cI proved during my volunteer time that I\u2019m reliable and a hard worker, so
\nthey knew that about me going in.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Steller sea lions are among the largest species to call Mystic home. Just as in the wild, Mystic\u2019s sea lions eat a diet of fish and invertebrates, such as squid.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Northern fur seal pups haul out for a rest.<\/p>\n
Photos: Courtesy Mystic Aquarium<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Quirke\u2019s internship in guest services and the marine mammal husbandry department\u2014which includes working with a harbor seal\u2014continues through August 2019. And then she has her fingers crossed that she will get hired to work with animals or in another public outreach role.<\/p>\n

DesFosses completed three internships at the aquarium before she was hired full-time, but she says it was all worthwhile. \u201cIt\u2019s the coolest job; it\u2019s everything I could have imagined it would be and more,\u201d she says. \u201cI don\u2019t think I could ever want anything more with my career than what I\u2019m doing now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"African
African penguins, like this Mystic resident, are endangered. Their population has declined 90 percent over the last 60 years. Mystic is a part of worldwide efforts to address and reverse the decline.
Photo: Courtesy Mystic Aquarium<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A bad day at work? Not here.<\/h1>\n

Not every 溏心vlog免费B站 grad who works at the aquarium works with marine mammals, of course. Megan Priede-Sousa \u201906, for instance, is the assistant supervisor of fish and invertebrates, which means she is responsible for almost everything that has to do with the aquarium\u2019s marine life\u2014 with the exception of the birds, mammals, and reptiles.<\/p>\n

And Tyler Bawden \u201917 helps ensure that visitors to the aquarium have a positive experience. As a guest services captain, he answers questions from guests, ensures exhibits are staffed, helps run the shows, trains new staff, and handles guest complaints. It\u2019s exactly the kind of job he hoped for when he earned his degree in wildlife biology\u2014a combination of wildlife conservation and environmental
\neducation.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery day working with guests and animals is strangely unique,\u201d he says. \u201cAll the animals have as many personalities as our staff does, and our guests can make or break the day. We have a really good team that helps support whatever comes our way, from making sure our shows open up, telling people about feeding times, wandering around addressing issues, and making sure the front desk is taken care of. If something doesn\u2019t seem right, we work on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

While he doesn\u2019t get hands-on with the animals every day, he helps manage VIP tours and beluga whale encounters, and he gets plenty of opportunities for wildlife encounters of his own.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything is so unique here,\u201d Bawden says. \u201cOn any given day I might want to hang out with the fur seals or be surrounded by the reptiles\u2014they\u2019re my bread-and-butter. I can\u2019t say I have a favorite animal, but I also don\u2019t have a least favorite.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Children enjoy a Mystic exhibit.
Photo: Courtesy Mystic Aquarium<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For Gabby Woodford \u201914, working at the aquarium often means she\u2019s on the road presenting educational programs about marine life to audiences near and far, all of which involve showcasing some of the aquarium\u2019s animals, from crabs to sea urchins to reptiles.<\/p>\n

\u201cI could be doing a birthday party at the aquarium or at someone\u2019s house; I might go to a school and do multiple programs in one day; or bring a touch-tank to a conference; or take people on tours,\u201d she says. \u201cWe even have weeklong programs sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf people don\u2019t know about an animal, they don\u2019t know to care about it. So education is the most important part of conservation.”
\n\u2013Gabby Woodford ’14<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

She enjoyed the fieldwork she conducted while earning her wildlife biology degree, including searching for salamanders in West Virginia, conducting an inventory of reptiles and amphibians on Fire Island National Seashore, and learning to track birds by first tracking her professor through the woods. But when it came time to look for a job, she was most interested in those that featured environmental education.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf people don\u2019t know about an animal, they don\u2019t know to care about it,\u201d says Woodford. \u201cSo education is the most important part of conservation. It\u2019s especially fun for me to watch kids learn about why it\u2019s so important to protect these animals.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really hard to have a bad day when you\u2019re out there and you get to see beluga whales and sea lions every day,\u201d concludes Quirke. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of hard work going on behind the scenes to take care of all of the animals, but all that hard work is absolutely worth it.\u201d \u2022<\/p>\n

Understanding Beluga Reproduction<\/h1>

\"Justin
Justin Richard, Ph.D. \u201916, teaches 溏心vlog免费B站\u2019s popular Seminar on Marine Mammals at Mystic and conducts research with Mystic\u2019s belugas.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n
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Justin Richard\u2019s experience at Mystic Aquarium extends beyond his former career working with beluga whales and his present role co-teaching the marine mammal seminar. He also conducts beluga whale research at the aquarium, and since 2013, more than 35 溏心vlog免费B站 students have been part of his research team.<\/p>\n

He became interested in learning more about beluga reproductive physiology after working with one of the whales that was involved in the first-ever artificial insemination of a beluga.<\/p>\n

\u201cI realized that little was known about beluga reproduction, and there was a lot that Mystic\u2019s animals could teach us about it,\u201d he says. \u201cThere is a very clear connection between understanding beluga reproduction and understanding their population dynamics in the wild. If we\u2019re going to understand how populations grow, we have to understand their reproduction.\u201d<\/p>\n

That led him to collaborate with Becky Sartini, associate professor of animal science and an expert in mammalian reproductive physiology.<\/p>\n

\u201cStudying Mystic\u2019s belugas year-round helps us fill in the knowledge gaps that studying them in the wild leaves, because the animals breed in the late winter in the Arctic when they\u2019re completely inaccessible,\u201d Richard says.<\/p><\/div>\n

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He has spent the last five years validating methods of measuring reproductive hormones. For instance, he figured out he could identify when female whales have ovulated and the status of their pregnancy from hormones in the mucus from their exhalation or blow. He has also validated the use of ultrasound to assess male reproductive physiology.<\/p>\n

There is a lot that Mystic\u2019s animals can teach us about beluga reproduction. \u201cThere is a very clear connection between understanding beluga reproduction and understanding their population dynamics in the wild.”
\n\u2013Justin Richard, Ph.D. ’16<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Now he\u2019s trying to link behavioral observations with these physiological measures so he can determine a whale\u2019s reproductive status based entirely on the behaviors they exhibit.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re very showy animals, almost like birds, in that the males perform a lot of display behaviors, which suggests that the females are choosy about who they mate with,\u201d he says. \u201cAnd that leads to many different management and conservation questions, especially as beluga habitat changed rapidly with the loss of Arctic sea ice.\u201d \u2022<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p><\/div><\/section>\n

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Photos: Courtesy Mystic Aquarium, Nora Lewis<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Allie Seifter Bruscato \u201911 works closely with many of Mystic\u2019s marine mammals, including this beluga whale. Photos: Courtesy Mystic Aquarium By Todd McLeish 溏心vlog免费B站’s connection with Mystic Aquarium affords one-of-a-kind opportunities for 溏心vlog免费B站 students and alumni. The 溏心vlog免费B站 and Mystic Aquarium, in nearby Mystic, Connecticut, have forged a special relationship. At Mystic […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[106,109,108,103,107,105,104],"class_list":["post-1870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-summer-2019","tag-allie-seifter-bruscato","tag-belugas","tag-justin-richard","tag-mystic-aquarium","tag-rachael-desfosses","tag-seminar-on-marine-mammals","tag-todd-mcleish","architecture-features"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1870","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1870"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1870\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2043,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1870\/revisions\/2043"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1870"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1870"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1870"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}