On the first day of my Honors Biology class, I could instantly tell that Ms. King wasn’t your average teacher. No, not at all. As the weeks progressed into the cold, dark days of what was now high school, I picked up on the fact that she was eccentric. She’s humorous, wild, and unpredictable, and isn’t afraid to get her manicured nails dirty. She’s what so many little girls dream of being. Strong and independent, with a passion for the outdoors and a deep drive to learn about the world around her.

When I went to interview her about her past career in biology– a career that encapsulates her rich, wild personality — I was met with a room full of loud, voracious seniors trying to steal her beloved candy. I knew that second that this interview (or even the next four years) were bound to be interesting. 

What were your earliest interests in biology and what drew you to that career originally? 

“Probably high school. I had a really awesome biology teacher, and she sparked my interest. I didn’t think I was going to go to college for biology until way later. I love plants and animals, so it was exciting having a career where I could focus on that.”

What did you find more fascinating or rewarding about your research or fieldwork?

”I felt that I was actually contributing to positive climate research, and that made me feel like I was having a bigger impact on the climate overall. What’s fascinating about it is how much physical work goes into scientific data, and just the sheer number of different things that people can use as a research driver.”

Was there a project or discovery you’re particularly proud of?

“Yes. I worked on a project that focused on environmental DNA in the gulf of Maine and the surrounding watersheds. The goal of that research was to better understand trophic cascades caused by damming so many rivers in Maine, so we looked at the ecological effects of several fish species not being able to run between fresh water and salt water sources, and how damming was affecting key fish populations, lobster, plankton, mammals, birds, all that, and ultimately, how all that was and is affecting Maine's economy.”

What were the biggest misconceptions people had about your work?

“I thought it would be a lot more lab work and calculations and scientific writing and literature, but it's a ton of physical exertion. Like, ten times more physical exertion than you’d expect.”

What made you decide to leave the field?

“I was tired, and I was doing a lot of work in Northern Maine, and I would be gone from my house for multiple weeks in a row. We didn’t have electricity or running water, and there were mice in the wall that dropped the insulation on me while I was sleeping. I was really just ready to go home and be with my family.”

What challenges did you experience during the shift?

“Sometimes there were interesting interactions with other people. Most of the time people support our work, but sometimes people could get really upset. Usually, that could be solved with some education on what we were doing, but sometimes we couldn’t change their minds. And physical challenges — I was working in bogs in gross water, hiking 14 miles with all our gear. Plus the mental challenges with it, being gone that long. But as far as the actual research, there weren’t a whole lot of challenges with data collecting.”

What skills transferred with you well?

“The educational component. A lot of it has an outreach element, so knowing how to explain complex scientific concepts to others was definitely helpful as a new teacher. Plus having a natural love for science made it easier to talk about our projects to people, too.”

What do you miss? What do you not miss at all?

“I don’t miss being away from home for a long time, but I do miss being outside all the time and working with animals that aren’t quite as sassy as high schoolers.”

What hobbies or passions helped you navigate?

“I like to birdwatch, and I know that’s really nerdy. I also hiking and being outdoors, which helped with hauling gear and projects with lots of walking or hiking. I also enjoyed boating, so when we were on the ocean or lakes, knowing how to operate the boat and the safety precautions was beneficial.”

Did your career affect your sense of personal identity or purpose?

“I suppose a little bit, but I really try to keep my professional life away from my personal life. I’d say I do well keeping a good balance between that. One of the first questions when you meet somebody is often “what do you do”, so it did create a little bit of my identity, but I didn’t let it dictate my entire life.”

What advice would you give someone entering biology?

“Be ready for the amount of work, have a good base in math and science, and have a drive to constantly further your knowledge and education. Be willing to do projects that you maybe don’t love to make it to projects that you do love.”