Chasing Sharks: How to Become a Shark Scientist

By: Christina Andrea Alvear 

As a child, I always had a fascination with animals. My favorite pastime was watching Shark Week on Discovery during the summer. At one point in my adult life, I even went to the beach early in the morning with my husband in hopes of finding a shark tooth along the waterline (unfortunately, I had no luck.) I never had the courage to see a shark up close, but I found these animals intriguing, nonetheless. Sharks are remarkable and so are the people who study them!

Like any field, becoming a scientist requires hard work and dedication. To better understand the mystery of becoming a shark scientist, I asked Carlee M. Jackson-Bohannon, the Director of Communications and co-founder of MISS for insights.

Thinking about sharks begs the question: How does one become a shark scientist?
 Read the interview below to find out!

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Meet Carlee
Carlee is a shark and sea turtle scientist with an M.S. in Marine Biology from Nova Southeastern University. She has worked with the NSU shark tagging program and studied the impact of tourism on nurse sharks in Belize. Her research focuses on how human activities affect sharks and their habitats. Carlee received the 2022 Justice in Equity, Diversity & Inclusion award from the Florida Marine Science Educators Association. She has also worked as a Research Associate at New College of Florida, a Marine Turtle Specialist at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, and an environmental educator in South Florida. At MISS, she is a co-founder and leads social media content and management, while advancing her conservation efforts.

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CA: Given that you are both a shark and turtle scientist….let’s start with some warm up questions.

Warm Up Questions

CA: What's your favorite shark? What's your favorite turtle?
CJ: My favorite shark is the nurse shark, my favorite turtle is the loggerhead sea turtle.

Carlee’s favorite animals. Images from left to right: Nurse shark by juliem_wildphoto via iNaturalist and Loggerhead Sea Turtle by Roberto Pillon via iNaturalist

CA: There are countless fields to explore in science, and becoming a shark scientist is a dream for many. However, this career comes with its challenges, such as securing funding, competing for research positions, and the physically demanding fieldwork in the open ocean. With all these factors in mind.

CA:What makes a shark scientist choose their field over other fields? 
CJ: After trying different types of sciences, a shark scientist may choose their field because it was the one that interested and excited them the most.

CA: What are some of the tracks that a shark scientist can do?

CJ: Basic biology classes, marine science courses, field courses, data science courses.

CA: What are some myths associated with being a shark/sea turtle scientist?
CJ: I think that some people think we are out in the field all the time and underestimate the amount of research and paperwork goes on! Depending on the type of work, being out in the field is about 30% of the work and the rest is writing, research and other computer things.

CA: Generally speaking, from what you have described and what I understand, to become a shark scientist, you have to gain experience through internships, field work, and develop skills in scientific research, writing, and data analysis.  You also have to complete an advanced degree in marine biology or a related field.  As straightforward as that sounds.

Program related questions

Image: Comparison of size of baking shark by The Nature Box CC-BY- SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

CA:How competitive is the field?

CJ: The field can be competitive because sharks are big, somewhat charismatic animals that people want to work with. Labs can fill up with people who want to work with sharks.

CA:Is there an hour requirement for internships and getting into a masters or P.h.D program?

CJ: It depends on the program but usually there are core course requirements that are needed to enter a masters program. Some PhD programs require a masters first, but most allow you to go straight into the program after undergrad.

CA: What should someone look for when determining whether a program is a "right fit" for them?

CJ: Make sure the physical location has everything you’d need/want in your quality of life. If possible get a feel of the program/lab participants to see if you would integrate well. Most importantly, make sure your advisor/PI is someone who will be able to help you with your needs. Determine what kind of mentor you need and make sure your advisor/PI fits that.

CA: How is the study of shark/sea turtles alike? Different?

CJ: Both animals are a bit cryptic and far moving, and overall generally under-studied. They both are also incredibly important to ocean cycles and the food chain, so we ask similar questions as to how populations are interacting with their environments. Sharks are fish, while sea turtles are air-breathing reptiles, so research methods are pretty different between the two. Sea turtles are able to be rehabilitated and released back into the wild, while that is not able to happen with sharks. There are also only 7 species of sea turtle, while there's over 500 species of sharks!

CA: How has the field of elasmobranch research evolved in the last 10 years?

CJ: I would say that there has been an uptick in the use of technology in shark science such as being able to obtain more data from animals using certain tags. The field has also had an increase in women, in my opinion, and an increase in visibility of some scientists as well. I think more and more research questions are coming up in the field that need to be answered, and we are also starting to see results from conservation methods put into place 10+ years ago.

CA: Given your experience, I'd like to ask you about some wisdom you have gained along the way.

Pearls of Wisdom

CA:What do you wish you knew starting in the field?

CJ: I wish I knew what types of full-time jobs outside of research and academia were available in my field.

CA:What is the best advice that you have gotten on your journey to becoming a shark scientist?

CJ:The best advice I've received was from a mentor when I was doubting myself and letting imposter syndrome take over: Continuously remind yourself of all of the things you've accomplished along your journey, big and small.

CA:What advice do you have for aspiring shark scientists?
CJ: Don't be afraid to try many new and different things and build transferable skills, because you never know what discipline of shark science might be your niche! For example, if you know that you enjoy lab work then you definitely can do lab work with shark projects.

Closing Thoughts

MISS encourages you to chase your dreams, no matter where you are on your journey. MISS is here to offer support, community, and funding opportunities for gender minorities of color.  Sincerest thanks to Carlee and all of the people at MISS who create opportunities for people who have been historically excluded from the field of marine and shark sciences.


Ready to become a shark scientist? Check MISS out for workshops, internships, and fellowships!

• MISS programs

Want to make a difference?

• Donate to MISS

Want to learn more about being a shark scientist? Check this links out!

• ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research

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Christina Andrea Alvear is a coordinator for a nonprofit organization in San Antonio, Texas.  She is a regular writer for Envirobites.  Her goal is to make primary research fun and accessible to everyone while connecting with other science enthusiasts.  She earned a MS in Biology at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She has explored a wide range of careers, including research, education, nonprofit mental health, substance abuse, and healthcare programs.. During her time off, she likes to lounge around at a coffee shop on a weekend or enjoy a board game with friends.  Feel free to connect via LinkedIn.

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