Scripps Student Spotlight: Ethan Staats

Ethan Staats is a fourth-year PhD student studying marine biology at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. Staats grew up in New York. He received his bachelor’s degree in biology from Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y., and his master’s degree in biology from Virginia Commonwealth University. Staats also completed the United States Navy's Officer Development School in Newport, R.I., and several United States Naval educational curricula on combat first-aid, pest management, epidemiology, and disease-risk mitigation. At Scripps Oceanography, Staats is co-advised by marine biologists Dimitri Deheyn and Michael Latz. In the Deheyn Lab, he is researching biofluorescence in marine organisms, life's interaction with electromagnetic radiation, the global impacts of plastics use and waste, biomimicry, and thermal biology. Staats is also the recipient of the Jeffrey B. Graham Endowed Fellowship.

explorations now (en): Why did you choose to attend Scripps?

Ethan Staats (ES): I chose to attend Scripps for quite a few reasons! Principally, because I saw an opportunity to do ecology research focused on questions of "why is it?" rather than "what does it mean for human people?" As a young biologist, I had become interested in marine biology, and my parents suggested that I could study marine biology at Scripps when I got older. I initially did not plan to, but my path led me here four years later! I lived in San Diego for three years before starting at Scripps, and fell in love with Southern California, the Southwest, and the Pacific Ocean, so Scripps just seemed like the right place for me. 

en: What are you researching at Scripps?

ES: I'm researching the biofluorescence of the proteins in lancelets, transparent fish-like organisms and ancient sisters to vertebrates. Fluorescence is a neat electronic process that is stunning to observe. A lot of organisms have fluorescent properties, but scientists do not have many evidence-based ideas for why fluorescence occurs, which is what I am researching.
 

en: What’s life like as a Scripps student? Describe a typical day.

ES: For me, a typical day at Scripps starts with waking around 7:00 a.m. and starting my day with hygiene and coffee. Next, I plan out as many projects as I can throughout the day, including my dissertation research, my classes if I'm taking any that quarter, teaching if I'm doing that during that quarter, my personal artistic and scientific projects such as photography and southwest naturalism, fun like surfing or reading, my bills, apartment and other contractual or lifestyle obligations, and my family and friends and other social relationships. Additionally, on days where I'm lucky or especially locked in, I find time to discover new things to experience about my whole circumstance. A typical day is multifaceted, energetic, challenging, and rewarding.

en: What’s the most exciting thing about your work (in the field or in the lab)?

ES: Undoubtedly the most exciting part of my work is the possibility of discovery and the process of pursuing that discovery. Deciphering the story told by a suite of data is like an intellectual challenge where you get the fun of finding a resolution, and there is also the extra surprise of knowing something new. It's so much fun to do!

en: Are there any mentors who have helped you along the way?

ES: I can deeply thank my advisors Dimitri and Michael, as well as many other people who have guided and supported me along the way, especially with some challenging circumstances that I experienced early on in my graduate school journey. 

en: What are your plans post-Scripps?

ES: After I graduate from Scripps I'm hoping to do a postdoctoral scholar position at San Diego State University working with biofluorescence in reptiles. I'm also open to other possibilities, such as looking for non-academic work, taking a little bit of time off to do some traveling, or working on personal projects that I have been accumulating while I have been here at Scripps.

You can find Ethan Staats on Instagram @simp.for.snakes.