Pocket Mice!

Contrary to popular belief, life as a graduate student can actually get quite hectic.  While many popular coping mechanisms involve watching hours of YouTube, searching funny animal photos, and of course, Facebook, I have actually done something both fun AND productive!  I've started blogging on the San Diego Zoo website (check out my first post here!) about my research with the Pacific pocket mice.  My co-advisor is a researcher at the Institute for Conservation Research at the SD Zoo, and I am working on a conservation project they are getting started up over there.  I'll be contributing regularly with updates on my PPM work and what it is like to be a graduate student and working towards a career in conservation research!

Eel Attack!

Being a graduate student is (surprise!) a lot like being a student again. I'm taking a few classes my first quarter here and am actually enjoying them.  But then again, I was always the kid who liked school (much to the astonishment of many of my classmates, I'm sure).  I'm having fun mentally challenging myself, and there are so many mini discoveries every day that I'm constantly on my toes and excited about something.  Granted, when I am talking about animals and conservation and biology, it doesn't take much to make me happy.  Today, for example, I was reading an article for class about evolved morphological traits in the parrotfish, one of them being a pharyngeal jaw. I couldn't quite picture what that meant so I Googled it (also- thank goodness for the internets! I can't imagine being a grad student without it!!).  I found a picture of how they work in Moray eels, another awesome creature.  Basically, it is a second jaw that comes forward and helps drag food down your throat if you are an eel and can't swallow.  It seems like something straight out of a sci-fi movie.  Nature is the coolest!