Scientist Spotlight: Priya Shukla, PhD

Who are you outside of work? What do you like to do for fun?

Ahi the Cat

Outside of work, you would probably find me wandering around in nature, swimming in a pool, or playing with my cat, Ahi. I like to relax by reading books, sketching, and watercolor painting. I also enjoy working in the community, and am currently volunteering with the Oakland Public Library.

What is your job title? Can you describe your job in 5 words?

I am a Project Manager at Strategic Earth Consulting.

In 5 words: helping people connect around ocean changes.

What’s the story of how you got to where you are today?

I have been incredibly lucky to be in school for many years to learn how to be a marine scientist (you might even call me a marine biologist!). I've spent the past 15 years trying to understand how human-caused changes to our atmosphere are impacting ocean life. This has led me on many adventures from SCUBA diving in kelp forests, to wading waist-deep in mud to work with farmed oysters. I have also worked as an educator, taking students out on a large boat to teach them how we take samples in the San Francisco Bay to better understand the environment and working with environmental lawyers to protect the San Francisco Bay. All of this work has inspired me to think about how the work I do impacts the people who stand to benefit from it. For that reason, I found myself working with an amazing team of fellow ocean enthusiasts who work with Tribes and communities in coastal towns to make sure their voices are heard when critical decisions are being made that may affect them.

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of this job is when I get to make a new connection, whether it's between myself and a new person or a person and a new opportunity/idea. Building bridges not only helps me do my job better, but it also helps people feel empowered and like they can make a difference in their own communities.

Most exciting discovery?

My most exciting discovery as a scientist was when I realized that I could put oysters through a sort of "boot camp" where I could briefly put them in challenging circumstances (warmer than usual water) and watch them get stronger as a result. Similar to putting time in at the gym, being stressed out for brief periods of time can potentially help oysters grow stronger!

Which of your skills contribute most to your work?

As much time as I've spent learning some pretty technical skills, I find that my ability to speak thoughtfully and write clearly are incredibly important for building relationships with people. My ability to run statistical analyses and understand scientific phenomena continues to be important, but my ability to communicate stands out to me in my current role.

What are the challenges you face in your position?

One of the largest challenges is that no matter how strategic and careful I am in my communications approach, it doesn't always lead to a strong relationship that can lead to an immediate impact. My organization often leans into a Stephen Covey quote "Change moves at the speed of trust" to remind ourselves that we need to focus on the people first, and results later.

What are some cool pieces of technology that you use?

In my current job, the coolest piece of technology I use is a laptop computer 😛 Prior to this job, I was incredibly lucky to use a device that helped me estimate the amount of disease within a sample of oyster tissue. Specifically, I used a Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Detection System to measure the number of copies of virus DNA in each oyster, which helped me understand how changes in the ocean environment were affecting the oysters' likelihood of becoming infected.

What’s the coolest thing you've gotten to experience on the job (touch, smell, see)?

One of the detours I took as a student studying to be a scientist was helping a critically endangered sea snail - the white abalone - spawn eggs to keep their population going. There are currently more white abalone in labs in California than there are in the wild.

Do you work more in a lab, outside, or at a computer?

My current job has me working at a computer, but previous hats I've worn have taken me to labs and outside!

If you could swap jobs with another kind of scientist, who would it be?

I would love to swap jobs with a neuroscientist! The human brain is so complicated and mysterious, it would be incredibly cool to try to learn more about how it works -- especially since I relied on it so much to become a marine scientist in the first place.

What advice would you give to a kid who says “I’m not good at science”?

I would say that you haven't given yourself enough of a chance! There are many types of science out there and perhaps you haven't quite found the one that jives with you. Also, science - like anything else - is something that you need to practice to become better at. I would imagine any other hobby or skill you've picked up like playing piano or basketball, and think about how long it took you to get better. When you find a field of science that sparks your curiosity, it will suddenly feel easier to work hard to become better at it. And, I'll be honest, just because I've spent a lot of time learning marine biology, does not mean I can do every kind of science! If I decided to become a physicist tomorrow, I'd be starting at square one just like anyone else.

When did you know you wanted to be a scientist?

I remember being in class and learning about how the oceans were absorbing carbon dioxide from our atmosphere, causing them to become more acidic. I knew I wanted to be someone who helped understand the impacts of 'ocean acidification' and work towards helping the ocean and the people who depend on it for fun or for their livelihoods.

When the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide (CO2), it mixes with the water (H2O) to form carbonic acid (H2CO3). The carbonic acid is unstable and breaks down into bicarbonate ions (HCO3-) and then carbonate ions (CO32-), releasing 2 hydrogen ions (H+) along the way. This process is making the ocean increasingly more and more acidic. Many scientists, including Dr. Shukla are studying how this change in water chemistry affect all the types of living things in the ocean.

Student Glossary

Marine Biologist – A scientist who studies ocean life, including plants, animals, and how they interact with their environment.

SCUBA – A way for people to breathe underwater using special equipment that includes an air tank and mouthpiece. It stands for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.

Kelp Forest – An underwater habitat filled with large seaweeds called kelp. These forests provide food and shelter for many ocean animals.

Statistical Analyses – A way scientists use math to study data, find patterns, and make sense of what their results mean.

Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Detection System – A laboratory tool that helps scientists find and measure very small amounts of DNA to learn more about living things.

Spawn – When fish or other water animals release eggs or sperm into the water to reproduce

Neuroscientist – A scientist who studies the brain, nerves, and how they control thoughts, feelings, and movements.

Carbon Dioxide – A gas found in the air that people and animals breathe out, and that is also released when things like cars or factories burn fuel.

Ocean Acidification – A change in ocean water that happens when it absorbs too much carbon dioxide, making the water more acidic and harmful to sea life.