The research I conducted for my day job was motivated by a desire to understand the evolutionary processes that generate biological diversity. I worked toward this goal by studying how morphology changes through time using genetic tools. I got my B.A. (in Biology) from UC Santa Cruz in 1999 and my Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut in 2008. After I finished my graduate work I was a postdoctoral fellow at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, and a Research Scientist at UC San Diego for seven years.
The two most popular questions I get asked when I talk about my research are 1) “What is the application?” Which means, “is that really worth your time and effort” (and taxpayer money because I am often funded by federal grants), and 2) “How did you get interested in that?” The second question is easier to answer so let’s start with that. I have always been interested in Biology; from ages 7-18 it was marine biology. I had glass shelves around the perimeter of my room with sand and shells setup to look like a beach. There were images of fish on the walls and various marine inspired knick-knacks I accumulated from birthdays and Christmases. When I went to UC Santa Cruz for undergrad I planned to major in marine biology. During my first meeting with my academic advisor, Richard something or other, he recommended I start with a major in general biology and add a marine biology emphasis later if I was still interested. I never added it. My junior year at UCSC I went abroad to Costa Rica for a tropical ecology program. Upon arrival I was asked what my main interest was. Was it plants? Was it reptiles? Amphibians? Birds? You know, what is it that I liked to study? I didn’t want to say marine biology because the program was primarily terrestrial-based so I stole an interest from a good friend of mine and said I liked to study insects. For the rest of my time in Costa Rica my interest in insects grew and gradually narrowed to beetles. After graduation, and a stint in the biotech industry, I started a graduate program at the University of Connecticut and became a specialist on the evolution of beetle genitalia. Hence, the second question, what is the application of my research?
The two most popular questions I get asked when I talk about my research are 1) “What is the application?” Which means, “is that really worth your time and effort” (and taxpayer money because I am often funded by federal grants), and 2) “How did you get interested in that?” The second question is easier to answer so let’s start with that. I have always been interested in Biology; from ages 7-18 it was marine biology. I had glass shelves around the perimeter of my room with sand and shells setup to look like a beach. There were images of fish on the walls and various marine inspired knick-knacks I accumulated from birthdays and Christmases. When I went to UC Santa Cruz for undergrad I planned to major in marine biology. During my first meeting with my academic advisor, Richard something or other, he recommended I start with a major in general biology and add a marine biology emphasis later if I was still interested. I never added it. My junior year at UCSC I went abroad to Costa Rica for a tropical ecology program. Upon arrival I was asked what my main interest was. Was it plants? Was it reptiles? Amphibians? Birds? You know, what is it that I liked to study? I didn’t want to say marine biology because the program was primarily terrestrial-based so I stole an interest from a good friend of mine and said I liked to study insects. For the rest of my time in Costa Rica my interest in insects grew and gradually narrowed to beetles. After graduation, and a stint in the biotech industry, I started a graduate program at the University of Connecticut and became a specialist on the evolution of beetle genitalia. Hence, the second question, what is the application of my research?
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| The objects of my affection: male (left) and female (right) genitalia of scarab beetle species (genus Phyllophaga) |
In
the face of the many catastrophes happening around the world, what is the significance
of studying beetle genitalia? This is a good question, there have been many
times when I asked myself the same thing. Why don’t I put my intelligence,
experience, and enthusiasm toward something more applied? A research program
that directly benefits society, such as the influence of climate change on
mountain pine beetle infestations. At times I think about it so much I even
consider changing my career path and research focus. What I have decided to do
instead is start this blog. To answer the question of applicability by showing
how seemingly superfluous research creates the foundation for discoveries -
discoveries that provide sustainable options to keep up with the demands of
human society. Every organism with a role in bioinspiration was discovered,
named, and described by taxonomists. The habits, distribution, natural history,
and reproductive behavior of each of those species were studied intensively by
a second group of scientists. And the potential of that species to provide a
solution to human-based issues is often recognized by yet another set of
scientists. Most times, such discoveries are based on research conducted by
several different types of scientists over hundreds of years. Each discovery
represents a synergy of ideas from a long history of curious people dedicated
to learning more. These are their stories, with a few of my own curiosities
mixed in. And the result, well, I like to think of it as an account of our GDC (Gross
Domestic Curiosity).
“If I have seen further, it is by
standing on the shoulders of giants.”
Isaac Newton (1676), by way of Bernard of Chartres (1130) through John of
Salisbury (1159).
Hi Maxi ! Jeff was just here in connection with Chase's 7th birthday, and he mentioned your interesting biodiversity blog. Prof. E. O. Wilson lives nearby. I met him one night in a local restaurant..he's instantly recognizable if one is familiar with his books' cover leaf photos. I thought of you when in Costa Rica in February...a large beetle appeared on the floor of my loge room in the Monteverde Cloud Forest.
ReplyDeleteUncle Dick
Hi Uncle Dick! So glad to hear you are spotting beetles on your travels and thinking of me. Monteverde is where we were stationed when I was there as an undergrad - it is a beautiful place. Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoy the blog!
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