I have an endless fascination with fish and aquatic life. I have kept fish all my life and would be very happy working with and researching aquatic life. However I don't know how good of a possibility that would be while still loving a normal life and having a family. How would a career in ichthyology affect life as I know it?
Is a career in Ichythyology possible maintaining a normal life
- Thread starter Cichlidshady
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I am sure there is some type of state agency that keep track and research the local aquatic wildlife, but it will be a government type job. I am in Oklahoma and I know at one point the state had a program where they stocked the state lakes with channel catfish and someone has to care and study those fish so I am sure you can have a career. You may have to get a degree and possibly relocate. JMO Goodluck!
I just Emailed your question to a friend who has a PHD in Ichthyology, maybe he will respond.
Mostly due to the influence of my fish obsession
I got a degree in Environmental Science, and ended up working as a chemist/microbiologist at a drinking water facility. Salary was under 40K per year, and much of the time I worked swing shifts.
People I worked along side had PHDs in chemistry, biology, and many of the sciences.
Once I had kids, I always worked a second job too.
Is that "normal", these days...I think so.
Mostly due to the influence of my fish obsession
I got a degree in Environmental Science, and ended up working as a chemist/microbiologist at a drinking water facility. Salary was under 40K per year, and much of the time I worked swing shifts.
People I worked along side had PHDs in chemistry, biology, and many of the sciences.
Once I had kids, I always worked a second job too.
Is that "normal", these days...I think so.
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I just recently graduated with a degree in Wildlife Management that set me up to work for the department of fish and wildlife. I took enough fish classes that I qualify for a lot of the fishery/hatchery jobs at entry level or the summer/temp jobs that don't pay very well. But most of the jobs I see listed to work with DFW require a degree or experience working with DFW (volunteer counts). I decided to up my career options I wanted to go to a master's program and then a PhD, more money available. I talked to a lot of icthyology professors after they would give talks, and basically the best way to have a family is to get a PhD and teach at an institution. They'll fund your research, give you students to do the grunt work and pay you a decent amount while having mostly normal hours. You also don't have to have a degree in Icthyology to work with fish, biology, ecology or zoology work too. Check out the DFW website for jobs in your area and look at the requirements. Also, DFW does pay a decent amount if you have the right degree, but not without education.
My current master's project is looking at the maternal effects of mouth brooding on juvenile behavior when presented with a threat. My degree is in Ecology and Environmental Biology with a focus in Evolution. There's a chance, about 75%, that I'll take it into a PhD. My supervisor works with African Cichlids and his PhD is in Evolution-Development. Anyway, just saying you can do lots of different degrees to work with fish. But you'll likely need a degree. Oh also, I got to do my Master's in Scotland after getting my BS in the states, so I do have familiarity with the US system, despite my current location, and a little bit with the UK system.
My current master's project is looking at the maternal effects of mouth brooding on juvenile behavior when presented with a threat. My degree is in Ecology and Environmental Biology with a focus in Evolution. There's a chance, about 75%, that I'll take it into a PhD. My supervisor works with African Cichlids and his PhD is in Evolution-Development. Anyway, just saying you can do lots of different degrees to work with fish. But you'll likely need a degree. Oh also, I got to do my Master's in Scotland after getting my BS in the states, so I do have familiarity with the US system, despite my current location, and a little bit with the UK system.
Hi There!
I am the friend Duane mentioned in his post. My name is Mike Pauers, and I am indeed an ichthyologist. I am the Adjunct Curator of Fishes and Orth Family Ichthyology Research Fellow at the Milwaukee Public Museum, and I am also an Assistant Professor of Zoology at the University of Wisconsin - Waukesha. Additionally, I am an active member of the largest professional society for ichthyologists in the western hemisphere, the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. I happen to be the Chair of the Education and Human Resources Committee, so this is a question in which I not only have some personal interest, but some professional interest, too.
First of all, there are really two big questions in your seemingly simple question. These are: 1.) What is an ichthyologist; and 2.) What is a "normal" life? Let's start with the second one...not that it is any easier!
If by "normal life" you mean a 9-5 job, working M-F, weekends off, great salary and benefits, vacation, easy work environment, set job tasks to complete each and every day, etc., well, then, no. You will not have a normal life as an ichthyologist. Some of this depends on what you mean by "ichthyologist;" more on that below. Now, that having been said, are there parts of my life that are "normal?" Absolutely! I own a home, I have a wife and young daughter, I have great benefits (i.e., health insurance and some retirement), I have time for my hobbies (one of which is my second career; Duane is right when he says you need a second job these days! Duane and I work together at our second job, and a big part of the reason why we do it is that we have a blast!), I have time for family and friends, and so some of that, I suppose, is normal. But, my job is not 9-5. Most of my job is teaching, and, since I teach at what would commonly be called a "community college" (i.e., a 2-year, freshman and sophomore campus), I have to teach at some odd hours, especially into the late evenings. But, when you do research, you have to work at that whenever and however you can. It can involve late nights, early mornings, coming in on weekends, going out into the field, visiting other countries, visiting other parts of your own country, etc. So, if research is part of your thoughts or plans, well, you'll have to be willing to take on some odd hours from time to time.
Now for the other question: What is an ichthyologist? The very simple answer is a scientist who studies the biology of fishes. So, this means that you will need a college degree of some kind to be able to work with fishes in this capacity. Is there much work for someone with a Bachelor's Degree (i.e., a 4-year degree) who calls her- or himself an ichthyologist? Yes, but your options are limited. Typically, such jobs would involve work as a "tech" in wildlife management, aquaculture, or biomedical sciences (lots of work with genetics and development in the Zebra Danio, for example); or even working as a keeper or aquarist at a zoo or aquarium. With those sorts of jobs, you will likely have a "normal" life (regular hours, little to no weekend work, regular pay, etc.), but you likely won't be doing any kind of original, self-directed research, which many consider the hallmark of being an "ichthyologist." Your opportunities to do that kind of research increase dramatically if you earn graduate degrees, but you will likely sacrifice some of the trappings of a so-called "normal" life (i.e., you won't work regular hours, you may have to delay family life while you're in school, you may not have a lot of social time, etc.). So, you really do have to be interested and dedicated to do this kind of work!
By the way, I am not suggesting that ichthyologists with 4-year degrees are somewhat lesser than those who have graduate degrees. It is just a matter of how much training you need for the type of job you want, and whether or not you see yourself doing original, self-directed research.
So, now that I have scared you, I should tell you that I very much enjoy being an ichthyologist! I really enjoy having time to pursue my own research on fishes; to me, there is no greater professional pleasure than sitting down to work on a project, or analyze some data, or even do some writing on a manuscript! I have gotten myself into situations in which I can do more or less what I want, research-wise, and I really love the challenges and career! But, it was a long a sometimes difficult and challenging road to get to where I am today. And, to be completely honest and forthcoming about things, it is likely to get harder for future scientists, whether ichthyologists or physicists, or geneticists. There are fewer and fewer jobs available, there is less and less money available for research, but more and more people competing for these resources. So, I say it again: you MUST, more than having pure smarts or abilities (those do help, actually, but they aren't necessary!), be passionate about and driven to succeed (however you define success) in the field of ichthyology! If you don't absolutely love the idea of doing work that will take you away from a "normal" life, then don't do this to yourself! Otherwise, welcome aboard!
I hope this was somewhat helpful. Please feel free to contact me (via further posts or PM's) if you have any other questions.
Best of luck,
Mike
The answer was not for me but thank you very much for such a lengthy well written answer.
I took my love for fish, animals and nature and became a high school science, environmental and biology, teacher. After years of slogging away and at times having to teach ESL language arts to elementary kids, have managed to become a head of a science department. As mentioned above, as long as you have passion and do not expect 6 figure job offers to fall into your lap, you will eventually get to a place you enjoy in your job.
I took my love for fish, animals and nature and became a high school science, environmental and biology, teacher. After years of slogging away and at times having to teach ESL language arts to elementary kids, have managed to become a head of a science department. As mentioned above, as long as you have passion and do not expect 6 figure job offers to fall into your lap, you will eventually get to a place you enjoy in your job.
I can second this just with my limited research experience with 10 months as a post grad. In my under grad most of my live animal research had to be done between the hours of 9-5 as I wasn't allowed to be unsupervised with the animals, they didn't want us injured and suing the University.
However, since my post grad project involves spawning fish and measuring behavioral "stuff" at a specified age, that often includes weekends. My supervisor gave me a key to the building and the codes to the basement aquarium rooms. I have to take my measurements around the fish's growth and spawning schedule. Basically, the fish run my life.
A friend of mine, and fellow course mate chose to do his first project (we do two projects for our Master's of Research here at Glasgow Uni) in the lab and was working around the same schedule as mine. His second project he got to go off to the Amazon, and so is basically working round the clock for a set amount of weeks before he returns.
IMO, it may not be a "normal" life, but man it's an exciting and rewarding one and I haven't even started my "adult" life yet!