World traveler and marine biologist Jessica Pate dives into what it takes to pursue her dream project: studying manta rays. From the hills (literally Chapel Hill) of North Carolina, to studying sea turtles on Costa Rican, Florida, and Ghana beaches, this scientist found her calling in the nearshore waters of Palm Beach County in the form of a large, winged marine animal. In this episode, we discuss the merits of graduate degrees, teaching marine biology on a sailboat and, how you can help with manta ray research.For Show Notes, including how to connect with Jessica or be a part of manta research, please visit https://marinebio.life/jessicaSupport the show (http://patreon.com/marinebiolife)