Scripps Student Spotlight: Theodora Mautz

Theodora Mautz is a second-year PhD student studying marine biology at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. Mautz grew up in Portland, Ore. and received her undergraduate degree in neuroscience from Harvard University. At Scripps Oceanography, she is advised by Brice Semmens in the Semmens Lab. Mautz is currently studying the reproductive behaviors of cephalopods—marine mollusks of the class Cephalopoda, which includes squid, octopuses, cuttlefish and nautiluses. She was supported through the Scripps Regents Fellowship her first year, and is now supported by the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

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

Theodora Mautz (TM): The people at Scripps were a big draw. I have met many wonderful people at Scripps. I had never been in an oceanography environment before coming here, and I am continually grateful to get to work with people who are really cool, welcoming and kind. I also appreciate how Scripps encourages connecting and applying research to local ecosystems and communities.

en: What are you researching at Scripps?

TM: I primarily study reproductive behaviors in cephalopods, specifically squid and cuttlefish. I'm interested in female choice and the ways in which males and females court each other and make decisions about who to mate with. I like working with cephalopods because of the dynamic signaling they can do with their body patterns, and because in many cephalopod species, the females mate with and store sperm from multiple males. Currently, I'm studying multiple paternity and mating behaviors in market squid (Doryteuthis opalescens) and mating-related visual signaling in dwarf cuttlefish (Sepia bandensis). I've also really enjoyed working on a collaborative study on the courtship behaviors of weedy seadragons (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) with researchers, curators and aquarists at Birch Aquarium at Scripps and the South-East Zoo Alliance for Reproduction and Conservation. 

en: How did you become interested in science and your field of study?

TM: While earning my bachelor’s degree, I took a lot of interesting classes at the intersection of biology and the history of science. I was particularly fascinated by the diversity of reproductive strategies across species, and the ways in which some of those strategies, especially those by females, have been historically overlooked or misinterpreted in research. Since I studied neuroscience, I also had an interest in cephalopods and their high intelligence. After I earned my bachelor’s degree, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, so I tried out a few jobs and internships in various combinations of these topics. Each experience helped me narrow down my interests and reaffirmed my excitement for cephalopod reproductive ecology.

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

TM: There isn't really a typical day, but most days include some combination of class time, genetic work in the lab, field research in the ocean for my own or friends' projects, and/or computer work in my office. It's nice to have a balance of these things and they keep me busy. 

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

TM: This past fall, there was a huge market squid spawning aggregation right off of La Jolla Shores, within view of my lab's building. It was such a privilege to get to see all of them gathered in front of us while in the process of creating the next generation. Diving alongside them felt like being the Jane Goodall of squid: observing, documenting and marveling at their behaviors. The other great thing about the recent aggregation was that many recreational divers were incredibly kind and helpful with sharing information and their own media. It was nice to connect and build relationships with local diving communities based on our shared awe of the squid.

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

TM: There are so many people who have supported me to pursue my research interests. I started writing out individual names, but then this started reading like an Oscars acceptance speech, and I haven't even finished the "film" yet, so I'll save that for my defense. Briefly, I owe a lot to my advisor Brice; my labmates and friends at Scripps; the Scientific Diving and Small Boating Program teams; the collections managers, aquarists, and curators at Scripps and Birch Aquarium; other Scripps and NOAA researchers; and external mentors at other universities. They've all generously offered their time, expertise, lab space, field skills, connections and support to me and my projects. I am very grateful.

en: What are some of the challenges you face as a student?

TM: I think being a graduate student is an interesting position to be in because you have to navigate the dual roles of being both a "learner" and an "expert" in your fields of study. Of course, the learning process never stops, but one of my personal challenges is knowing when and how to trust in my knowledge enough to present myself as an expert. I don't just mean in formal settings like presentations or interviews, but also in everyday circumstances, like designing a new experiment, leading a field research team or pursuing a line of inquiry with confidence. I'm guessing that there will never be an "aha!" moment where I feel I've firmly crossed into expert territory, so I'm working on balancing humility with bravery and faith in the things I know.

en: What are your plans post-Scripps?

TM: I would like to stay in academia and eventually become a professor with my own lab that studies some aspects of mate choice, reproductive behaviors and sensory ecology. I also really enjoy writing and science communication and can also see myself working in a science museum, aquarium, research institute with a public outreach component, or as a science writer. If none of that works out, you'll probably find me as the assistant to my sister, who I think will be a famous poet one day.

You can find Mautz on X (formerly Twitter) @TheodoraMautz and The Semmens Lab on Facebook.