Manatee Personal Statement Sample

Personal Statement: I strapped on my waders and began walking toward a manatee carcass. A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) marine mammal biologist proceeded to instruct me on how to perform my first field necropsy. Through this research experience I got to understand the internal anatomy of a manatee, outside of textbooks. Therefore, research allows me the opportunity to tangibly investigate my curiosity. The manatee has always sparked my curiosity because humans are their only major predator, leading to human-wildlife conflict. My undergraduate research and volunteer experience focus solely on the conservation of manatees, demonstrating my desire to become an expert on this topic in my graduate research. Intellectual Merit/Relevant Background: While an undergraduate at George Mason University (GMU), I was selected to participate in the Students as Scholars’ Undergraduate Research Scholars Program. This …show more content…
Although the De Mutsert Fish Ecology Lab was the first lab I officially joined, my previous lab experience that I received from courses that were not required under the biology core curriculum excelled my ability to contribute to the success of this lab. While volunteering in the lab, I assisted with a graduate research study that aimed to examine the life history traits of river herring, and determine if the Potomac River was a suitable spawning site. My role in this project was to assist with the sorting of ichthyoplankton, and the dissections of juvenile river herring to extract the otoliths for aging. Participation in this research project allowed me to work with graduate students in a laboratory setting, and learn the skills I will need in my forthcoming research projects. The broader impact of this study is that the results will later become widely accessible through various publications, which allows other researchers to expand on her