I, Marine Biologist

Back when i was an aggressive idealist (i was in high school then), i decided to “blaze my own trail in life”. So, instead of taking up engineering, which was what was expected of me, i enrolled in college to study zoology. Five years, many many lemons and gallons of lemon juice later, I passed out of University with a Masters Degree in Marine Biology. This was last month. More lemons followed. Then, last week, I was appointed Junior Research Fellow at the Center for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE), Kochi (under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India). What this means is that I am an underpaid Indian scientist. A Marine Biologist, to be precise. I try to stop smiling about it, but fail miserably.

My work is expected to involve spending time on board a research vessel (FORV Sagar Sampada) and in laboratories, studying various living things (NOT just fish) from the ocean deapths.

I’ll admit that I’ve spent my first week of work doing absolutely nothing. I expect that to change next week, when I embark on my cruise on board Sampada. We cast off on Monday and i know i’ll probably spend a lot of time being sick, but i’m really looking forward to sailing! Yippie!!

Sipping Lemon Juice, singing One hand in my Pocket, smiling.

Filed under: my li'l life, travel, work