Hello! My name is Frances Farabaugh. I am a new intern for the No Bones Blog. For the next few months I will be working with Allen Collins, Liz Boatmen and Maria Robles Gonzalez to bring you stories about cool critters and the happenings here in the world of inverts at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. I am a recent graduate from Humboldt State University, in Northern California, where I double majored in Marine Biology and Zoology with a minor in scientific diving. I am incredibly excited for the opportunity to learn from the amazing experts here at the National Museum of Natural History, and I am thrilled to share what I learn with you all.
Growing up on the Southern California coast, I have been fascinated by the ocean and its denizens (spineless and spined alike) since a very young age. My love for the ocean was reinforced when I began scuba diving at the age of 14. This passion has led me to some amazing experiences all over the world. During my undergraduate years I studied abroad for a year in Australia at James Cook University in Cairns, where I volunteered doing field work for graduate projects. I also seized the opportunity to dive and travel extensively and I learned much from the backdrop that only Australia can provide. I even was featured in a dive web-series [BARE the Adventure: Destination Australia, Guided by Fishes in SportDiver].
The following summer, in 2013, I was honored to be chosen by the National Science Foundation & Organization for Tropical Studies as a recipient of an eight-week research grant at the La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica.
Under the guidance of a mentor, I designed and conducted independent research on the behavioral ecology of frogs. My project examined the behavioral response of poison frogs to herbicide scent cues and the results indicated an unanticipated sexually dimorphic reaction. Furthermore, this result suggested that the frogs’ behavioral response to herbicides may affect their dispersal, and hence, composition of the ecosystem. My findings were recently published in the Canadian Journal of Zoology.
I recently finished up an assignment at University of California, Santa Barbara Marine Science Institute. Specifically, as a member of the wetland team on the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (S.O.N.G.S) Mitigation Monitoring Project. This project is designed to monitor the wetland and reef restoration projects in north San Diego County built to mitigate the environmental impact of the nuclear power plant. It has been gratifying to be involved with a scientific team that is making such a difference in my home community.
My passion for zoology and the ocean has now brought me here to Washington D.C. Blogging is a new activity for me so this experience will be an adventure. I am eager to delve into the wonderful world of invertebrates. There is so much to learn and explore! I am excited and inexpressibly grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the incredible team here at the Smithsonian.
By: Frances Farabaugh -- Intern Invertebrate Zoology Department NMNH
Thanks for this wonderful account of Mary Rathbun. I used to recall the way she gave up her salary so Waldo Schmidt might be hired - in my invertebrate zoology class. But I did not realize she began her passion at Woods Hole. I am a native of Woods HOle (the first native (man or woman) to earn her Ph.D. in Marine Biology) and much of my passion was developed at the MBL.And I so enjoyed your career development above. I wish you the best as you continue to communicate these stories to all of us. Cheers, Trish (an "Old" friend of Jon Norenburg!)
Posted by: M. Patricia Morse | 30 March 2015 at 12:07 PM
Good luck to you Frances. I look forward to hearing more about your research.
Posted by: Jessica Stemmler | 22 January 2015 at 02:04 PM