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Katie Tripp

Katie Tripp, Scientist Department Marine Mammal Research Location St. Petersburg

Degrees / Certifications

B.S. in Marine Science, Eckerd College, May 2003

Education / Experience

I majored in Marine Science at Eckerd College and obtained minors in both Chemistry and Environmental Policy.

I began as a Marine Mammal Pathobiology Lab (MMPL) volunteer in October 2001. I continued working at the MMPL as a work-study student and worked here part-time before becoming a full-time employee in May 2003.

Recent Projects / Interview Body

What are you working on now?
Right now, I am planning the next training workshop for the Florida Marine Mammal Stranding Network. This involves booking speakers and making sure all necessary training materials are compiled and available for the workshop.

I have also become the MMPL liaison to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). I keep track of all reports of cetaceans necropsied at the MMPL. This means editing reports, making sure samples and appropriate data are collected, and relaying this information to NMFS.

Aging necropsied manatees—by examining growth layers in their earbones—is another of my responsibilities.

I am in the process of streamlining my undergraduate thesis, "Functional Morphology of the Ovaries of the Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris)" for journal publication. I will also present this work at the biennial Society for Marine Mammalogy Conference this December, and am continuing my ovarian studies. I am currently conducting research on the strange pathologies exhibited by two manatees recently necropsied at the MMPL; I am hoping to document this information in the scientific literature.

Of course, there's necropsy, rescue, carcass retrieval, calls from concerned citizens with possibly injured manatees in their backyards, and health assessments for animals about to be released from nearby zoos and aquaria. I participate in many general lab maintenance activities too: keeping the necropsy room clean and organized, weekly visits from the renderer, photocopying, etc. I often edit manuscripts and other work, and sometimes serve as one of the editors for necropsy reports.

What would you say is your biggest accomplishment?
Being here right now is a big accomplishment. Sometimes I just stop and take a minute to think about my life and how hard I've worked and how focused I've been. When I realize that I'm doing what I've always wanted, it's sort of overwhelming. I've seen myself on the news for stories about manatee releases. My job has taken me behind the scenes at Sea World and Lowry Park, while just a few years ago I was the little kid on the other side of the fence, looking longingly at "biologists" working with the manatees. Now I'm one of those biologists. It's very satisfying to do this work and to have a job that I'm proud of. I am meeting so many amazing people; they used to just be authors of the books I read or the scientists I saw on the Discovery Channel. Now I KNOW them and talk with them as colleagues. I can't even describe the joy and satisfaction that accompanies this realization. I feel so incredibly lucky that the experiences of my life have had such fluidity and that all the pieces have fit together to get me here.

What do you like most about your career?
I love that the work I do is making a difference. I really enjoy interacting with people and educating them. I believe that our work in and of itself is important, but its value increases exponentially if we can educate the public and enhance their appreciation. I have seen many beautiful and wonderful things in my lifetime, and I do this work so that my kids and future generations can see these same sights and live in awe of the environment that surrounds them.

I am grateful to have been able to work at the MMPL because it has allowed me to discover what particular areas of research really interest me. If I hadn't worked here, I'm not sure I would have discovered my fascination with pathology, wildlife disease, and environmental toxicology, all of which I hope to study in graduate school and, possibly, veterinary school.

What do you like least about your career?
I don't think that I truly dislike any part of it.

What are some of your biggest challenges?
Time management. There's a lot to do here and balancing tasks is a real challenge, particularly when we get really busy with carcasses. Entire days can be occupied by necropsies, so that other priorities must be pushed aside. The days can be long, but each is different and poses new challenges.

Being a young female scientist in this particular sector of the field can also be challenging. In situations where the public is present, I'll often hear comments made about a girl doing a man's job. However, most of their preconceptions about female scientists seem to disappear when they see me willingly jumping in the water to get a carcass, handling a knife in the necropsy room, or working as hard as the boys. This is not just a man's field anymore, and I think people are starting to realize and respect that.

What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing a career in your field?
There is no single right path to get here. I have met so many people that have ended up in this field by incredibly varied paths, and I've learned that it's never too late to change your mind about what you want to do with your life.

Marine mammal work is hard to come by, but marine science is a wide-ranging field with an abundance of opportunities. Be open to many different types of jobs. Volunteer and intern as much as possible. These positions provide important practical experience and allow you to try a variety of different jobs to help you figure out what your passions are. Network; take advantage of every opportunity to meet people and learn something new. Be a sponge—soak in as much as you can from the world around you. It's never too early to start thinking about a career, but it is also never too late to change your mind and try something new. Most importantly, do what makes YOU happy, not what someone else believes in the right path for you. It's your life; take charge of it.