Julie Barber - Marine Biologist

 Julie holding a quadrant which is used for counting clams

Julie in the Ice Hole ready to Dive

What is your work position title? 

I have a real job in Washington where I work as a shellfish biologist for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. I help them manage their shellfish populations. I am really interested in sustainable fisheries! My work here in Antarctica is not connected to my job back in Washington. I am a scientific diver here and I work on a project studying decadal changes in seafloor ecology.

When did you decide you wanted to be an engineer/scientist?

I was really young when my parents took me on my first whale watch off of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. I decided then (maybe I was 8 or 9?) that I wanted to be a marine biologist. I never looked back and I still love my job!

What kind of things did you like to do growing up that you think influenced your decision to go into science? 

I loved going to the beach and wandering around tidepools. My parents also sent me to camps for kids interested in marine biology - I think these were great ways to get started in my career. I also took as many science courses as I could in high school.

What kind of work do you do in Antarctica?

Most of the work I've done as a marine biologist has involved SCUBA diving. I have over 1000 dives logged in places like Alaska, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and yes, occasional warm spots like Indonesia and Australia. I came to Antarctica to work as a scientific diver. It is awesome to dive under the ice and see huge sponges, gorgeous anemones, and big sea stars.

What would you say to anyone thinking about going into science?

Pursue your dream! Stick through the tougher classes that you might not want to take....don't let one course that isn't interesting to you keep you from following your dream. Take some time off between undergraduate work and graduate school to work in your field of choice. I took two years off before going back to graduate school. I worked as a scientific diver for Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska - I learned great techniques and got practical experience that I could apply to my graduate work. I think I never would have done as well in graduate school had I not taken that time "off" from school to work.

What school did you go to and how long did it take you to get your degree? 

I went to the University of New Hampshire where I received a BS in Marine and Freshwater Biologiy with a minor in Environmental Science. I spent one out of the four years it took me to get my BS in Australia studying abroad. Take any opportunity you can to learn outside of America!! My received my MS in biology from the University of Rhode Island. I took three years to finish my MS research and thesis.