From PhD to Beyond: Jalen's Journey Into Studying Flatsharks and What's Next

In this episode of the Beyond Jaws podcast, we talk to Jaelyn Myers, a PhD student from Australia who started her graduate work during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares the challenges she faced and discusses her science communication work with Stingrays. We also delve into the reasons behind her science communication efforts, her Instagram account, and the progress of her PhD.

Join us as we explore the fascinating world of shark science with Jaelyn Myers on today's episode.

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In this episode of the Beyond Jaws podcast, the hosts interview Jalyn Myers, a PhD student studying flat sharks (stingrays) in Australia. Jalyn shares her journey into the world of marine biology, starting with her interest in fish and aquatic biology during her undergraduate studies. After completing her master's degree in aquaculture-related research, she decided to pursue a PhD focusing on stingrays.

Jalyn discusses the challenges she faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed her move to Australia and disrupted her plans to start her PhD. Despite the setbacks, she persevered and continued her research remotely, working on literature reviews and analyzing existing drone data on stingrays. She also highlights the imposter syndrome she experienced during this time, feeling like she wasn't fully immersed in the PhD experience without being physically present.

Once Jalyn finally arrived in Australia in December 2021, she immediately started conducting fieldwork using drones to observe stingrays' feeding behaviors. She discovered that different species of stingrays have unique foraging strategies and preferences for specific habitats. She also observed interesting behaviors, such as rays overturning coral rubble to access prey.

Throughout the episode, Jalyn emphasizes the importance of using drones to study stingrays, as they provide a non-invasive way to observe their behavior and gather valuable data. She also discusses the gaps in knowledge regarding stingray foraging behaviors and the need for more comprehensive research in this area.

Overall, Jalyn's journey into studying flat sharks showcases her passion for marine biology and her dedication to understanding the ecology and behavior of these fascinating creatures.