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Biology, B.S. | Class of
Mark Murray
Senior Saltwater Aquarist
Employer: Loveland Living Planet Aquarium
Job description: As the Senior Saltwater Aquarist I am responsible for providing the highest possible quality of care to the animals in our care, which includes set-up, maintenance, and care of aquarium exhibits. I need to maintain current on all husbandry practices and natural history for all fish, invertebrates, reptiles, and amphibians within the saltwater department.
About Mark
Why did you choose this program?
HSU's Biology program provided an unparalleled hands-on opportunity to explore and study the animals and ecosystems that were being discussed in our lectures. Having access to the forest and the ocean provided a learning opportunity unlike any other university in California.
How did this program prepare you for your job?
This Biology program gave me the knowledge and expertise to establish and build aquarium habitats that best reflected the natural ecosystem in order to help educate guests that visit aquariums. I also had the opportunity to get hands-on job experience by working as a Laboratory Technician at the HSU Marine Lab while working on my degree.
What did you enjoy most about the program?
The in-depth labs that also had the ability to go out into the field for research were some of the most rewarding work in this program. Either seining for fish in Humboldt Bay for Ichthyology or collecting algae during extremely early low tides for Phycology are some of the moments that stick out the most.
What would you say to prospective students who are thinking about applying to this program?
Consider getting your minor in Scientific Diving! That minor pairs really well with a degree in biology since you can better explore the ecosystems that you are learning about, as well as gaining a great skill to make you more desirable to employers. My diving certifications opened many doors with some of my early employers.