Hear more from Angela:

My journey into science began more as a journey into nature. I have always been very passionate about animals and animal rights. When I was in fourth grade, I realized that I wanted to be a biologist based on an art assignment where we had to design our dream house. My dream house resulted in many, many rooms that were all for animals, only one bedroom, a small kitchen, and a small bathroom. From there, I began to read a lot about animals through my gifted National Geographic Kids’ Collection.

In high school, my biology teacher recommended that I apply for a Youth Volunteer position at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. The experience fully solidified my interest in becoming a zoologist. I attended Humboldt State University, now California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, where I got my Bachelor of Science in Zoology and then my Master of Science in Biology. Now I am in my PhD in Marine and Environmental Sciences at Northeastern University where I study sea star morphology.

I am studying two species, Asterias rubens (the Common Sea Star) and Asterias forbesi (the Forbe’s Sea Star), in New England that overlap after a period of separation and now hybridize. I aim to quantify the range of physical variation and to understand potential functions or consequences of that variation.

My advice for future marine scientists is that anyone can be a scientist. You can participate in science from a young age, BUT it is also really important to know that you can participate at any age! Citizen and Community Science are ways that the public can contribute to science. Using apps like iNaturalist, you can upload species that you see in your area which can help people know where the species live and how they are doing there. You do not have to be Einstein to be a successful scientist. I am no genius, but I am passionate enough to learn all I can about a specific thing and that topic is the sea star!