Welcome to my third Sully Asks A Scientist (SAAS for short)! SAAS posts will now be catalogued in the dropdown menu on the right. I wouldn't want y'all to miss any one of these spectacular scientists and all-around excellent human beings :)
As a quick reminder, these SAAS guest blog posts will feature a Q&A format that will hopefully allow you to learn about who these scientists are as people. I'll also be sure to incorporate plenty of links for you to have quick and easy access to social media profiles, websites, articles, and other means of finding out more about each guest's research. Please leave some comments and let me know if there are other questions you'd like answered, or scientists you'd enjoy reading about. Enjoy!
Margarita (Maggie) Hernandez
Pennsylvania State University - Anthropology Ph.D. Graduate Student and NSF Graduate Research Fellow
Perry Lab
Pennsylvania State University - Anthropology Ph.D. Graduate Student and NSF Graduate Research Fellow
Perry Lab
What is your elevator pitch? AKA what do you do/study?
I am broadly interested in non-human primate conservation and human-species interactions. Essentially, I would like to understand how anthropogenic factors affect species genomic diversity, the cultural practices that may be contributing to this reduced diversity (if it is being reduced), and how to address conflicts of interest between conservation policies and the livelihoods of the individuals who these policies would affect.
I’m a huge advocate for doing outreach, especially with K-12 students. I also love working with teachers and translating research for use in classrooms. I hope to be able to continue pursuing this passion through my graduate education and as part of my future career.
Images below are some of Maggie's favorites from her widely popular #mysterymagnification tweets. Could you guess what these items were from this super zoomed in POV? Check out the official Instagram account for more!
Let's get to know you a little bit better.
What are your top three favorite/coolest organisms?
My favorite primate group is definitely the gibbons. They honestly just look like hairy, long armed humans. AND they walk bipedally at times. Angler fish are also pretty amazing. What other female sex in a species carries around dead males as sperm sacs? FEMALE EMPOWERMENT. | The second organisms that came to mind are tardigrades because, seriously, who doesn’t like tardigrades? |
What language do you want to learn?
I’ve always wanted to learn Swahili. Back in the day when I thought I was going to be a paleoanthropologist, I thought learning Swahili would be great for conducting field work and connecting with locals. Although my career plans have changed dramatically since this time, I never lost interest in learning this language.
I’ve always wanted to learn Swahili. Back in the day when I thought I was going to be a paleoanthropologist, I thought learning Swahili would be great for conducting field work and connecting with locals. Although my career plans have changed dramatically since this time, I never lost interest in learning this language.
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
Oh, man. This is a hard question. I would love to go to southeast Asia and see gibbons and orangutans in their natural habitats. I hope to be able to do conservation work there in the future.
Oh, man. This is a hard question. I would love to go to southeast Asia and see gibbons and orangutans in their natural habitats. I hope to be able to do conservation work there in the future.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
I really suck at this question. Every time someone asks me this, I have a different answer. I think mind reading would be a great superpower but also weirdly too powerful and now that I think about it I don’t like it anymore. I’ll just resort to teleportation because I feel like everyone would love the ability to travel instantaneously.
I really suck at this question. Every time someone asks me this, I have a different answer. I think mind reading would be a great superpower but also weirdly too powerful and now that I think about it I don’t like it anymore. I’ll just resort to teleportation because I feel like everyone would love the ability to travel instantaneously.
What sorts of music do you listen to?
I listen to all kinds of music, except for country. That genre never really stuck with me. But I spend the bulk of my music-listening time on Pandora listening to my Dr. Dre station (and all the wonderful music that comes with that station) and my Backstreet Boys station because I’m a 90’s kid.
I listen to all kinds of music, except for country. That genre never really stuck with me. But I spend the bulk of my music-listening time on Pandora listening to my Dr. Dre station (and all the wonderful music that comes with that station) and my Backstreet Boys station because I’m a 90’s kid.
Ok, now let's get down to business.
What is something you wish the general public knew about your field?
When people hear that I am studying anthropology, they typically ask me what group of people I plan to study. I feel like this view of anthropology doesn’t encompass just how diverse this field is, and how many cards you could hold as an anthropologist. For example, I don’t solely identify as an anthropologist, but also a biologist, geneticist, and conservationist. I am all of these, even though I am studying anthropology.
When people hear that I am studying anthropology, they typically ask me what group of people I plan to study. I feel like this view of anthropology doesn’t encompass just how diverse this field is, and how many cards you could hold as an anthropologist. For example, I don’t solely identify as an anthropologist, but also a biologist, geneticist, and conservationist. I am all of these, even though I am studying anthropology.
When/how did you know you wanted to get into the world of scientific research?
I knew I loved science from an early age. Biology was my favorite subject in high school, but I never realized what careers there were for people interested in science. To be honest, I assumed becoming a physician was the only way to go. When I started doing research in college, I realized that I could be a scientist, not just a person interested in science. That’s when it all really clicked for me.
I knew I loved science from an early age. Biology was my favorite subject in high school, but I never realized what careers there were for people interested in science. To be honest, I assumed becoming a physician was the only way to go. When I started doing research in college, I realized that I could be a scientist, not just a person interested in science. That’s when it all really clicked for me.
What are your strengths/weaknesses as a researcher?
I would say that I am very self-motivated. I can do things without others pushing me to do them and enjoy pursuing my own variety of projects. I would say I have two big weaknesses. The first is my anxiety and how very small things can influence how anxious I am. My second weakness is my thin skin. I tend to take things really personally, even if they are not intended as so. I am hoping that graduate school will help me build up a better barrier against harsh criticism and be more open to constructive criticism.
I would say that I am very self-motivated. I can do things without others pushing me to do them and enjoy pursuing my own variety of projects. I would say I have two big weaknesses. The first is my anxiety and how very small things can influence how anxious I am. My second weakness is my thin skin. I tend to take things really personally, even if they are not intended as so. I am hoping that graduate school will help me build up a better barrier against harsh criticism and be more open to constructive criticism.
How do you attempt to maintain a work-life balance?
To be honest, this is not something I am good at. This first year of graduate school has been difficult for me in this way. I have a difficult time not working on school and research projects. And even when I am not working on them and trying to relax, I am always thinking about working on them. I do have great friends that I socialize with [left] regularly to keep me from going insane. At the moment, that’s my best strategy. |
What do you like/dislike about your research?
Like: I can answer my research questions from so many perspectives. It really gives an integrated feel to what I’m doing and I think that’s important.
Dislike: That being said, being able to answer questions from many perspectives also means you have to learn skills for each of those. It can be daunting and at times demoralizing.
Like: I can answer my research questions from so many perspectives. It really gives an integrated feel to what I’m doing and I think that’s important.
Dislike: That being said, being able to answer questions from many perspectives also means you have to learn skills for each of those. It can be daunting and at times demoralizing.
What do you like/dislike about academia (AKA research/higher-ed community)?
Like: I LOVE being in an environment where I am constantly learning, both from class and from other amazing scientists who I get to call my peers and friends.
Dislike: I worry sometimes that academics are too involved with themselves.
Like: I LOVE being in an environment where I am constantly learning, both from class and from other amazing scientists who I get to call my peers and friends.
Dislike: I worry sometimes that academics are too involved with themselves.
What is something that fascinates you from a field that is not your own? ASTROPHYSICS IS MIND BLOWING. I’ve always said that in another life I’d be an astrophysicist. I am fascinated by space exploration, planets, the universe, and understanding how life may develop on other planets. Who would you say is inspirational? This is a hard question for me. I tend to think of individual attributes in people that are inspirational, not the individual themselves, because no one is perfect. I don’t really have idols for this reason. This may sound odd, but I would say that my 4-year-old niece Emily [right] is probably one of the most inspirational people I have ever met. Her spirit and curiosity for the world inspires me to retain that childhood wonder, and I think this can translate into becoming a good scientist. |
What do you do/need to get focused and get your work done?
R&B music and a quiet environment.
R&B music and a quiet environment.
What advice would you give five-year-old you? What about fifteen-year-old you?
Five-year-old me: It’s ok to fall down and spill drinks all over your food. Don’t be so concerned about getting in trouble.
Fifteen-year-old me: Worry less about making the perfect grade and instead focus on what learning means to you.
Five-year-old me: It’s ok to fall down and spill drinks all over your food. Don’t be so concerned about getting in trouble.
Fifteen-year-old me: Worry less about making the perfect grade and instead focus on what learning means to you.
Where do you hope to go with your career?
I love the idea of doing research the rest of my life, but I don’t think academia is the place for me. I see myself potentially working in a museum as a curator and doing conservation work, while engaging with the public regarding my research.
I love the idea of doing research the rest of my life, but I don’t think academia is the place for me. I see myself potentially working in a museum as a curator and doing conservation work, while engaging with the public regarding my research.