Shaley Valentine recently joined Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) as an Assistant Research Scientist at the Illinois River Biological Station! Prior to joining INHS, Shaley completed a PhD at Southern Illinois University, specializing in the spatial and temporal habitat use and diet of native fish in the Mississippi River. Their academic journey also encompassed diverse ecosystems, including work with estuarine fish, lake sturgeon, small mammals, and amniote extinction risks. Shaley is eager to apply and broaden the skills acquired during their doctoral research, embracing more collaborative roles and offering support through analysis and mentorship. We sat down with Shaley to learn more about them, what they’re passionate about, and hear any advice they have for future scientists.
What is your background before coming to work at the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS)?
I just earned my PhD from Southern Illinois University where I studied the spatial and temporal habitat use and diet of native fish in the Mississippi River. I have also worked with native estuarine fish, lake sturgeon, small mammals and their parasites, and extinction risk of amniotes. Directly before starting at INHS, I backpacked for 2.5 months in southeast Asia (my second time) where I visited Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand.
What are you looking forward to the most in your new role at INHS?
I’m looking forward to applying and expanding on the skills I gained during my previous work and PhD to more applied research. I'm also excited to take more of a collaborative role and assist others where I can with analyses and mentoring.
How old were you when you first became interested in science? What sparked your interest?
I’ve been interested in science as long as I can remember. I grew up on a hobby farm on a lot of land and spent my time exploring the forest and taking care of the animals, so I knew from a young age that I really liked zoology and being outside. My dad is also a hobby geologist, so most family vacations were spent collecting fossils and minerals which further made me interested in science.
Who or what drew you to study fish ecology?
My first real job was with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission where I assisted with routine monitoring in estuaries. I fell in love with aquatic organisms that summer because it was like opening a surprise gift box every time we pulled a net: I never knew what cool animals we were going to find.
What are common misconceptions about your career? OR What question do you get asked most frequently about your career or the subject you study?
A lot of people think fish are gross, but fish are not gross! They are slimy because it is a way to protect them from injury, but it doesn’t make them gross.
A lot of other people think all we do is go fishing for fun. Unfortunately, I don’t spend all of my time fishing or spend it outside on rivers and lakes. I do spend most of my time on a computer writing, reading papers, and doing data analyses.
What are some challenges you’ve faced in your career?
There are relatively few women and sexual and gender minority individuals in this field which has made it difficult to find mentors and a community with individuals with similar identifiers to myself. The lack of community led to feelings of Imposter Syndrome as I navigated my PhD.
What do you wish more people understood about science or being a scientist?
Science is constantly changing and there are many failures along the path to discovering how things work. Scientists need to keep open minds and be flexible because many things go wrong during experiments or in the field and new information is constantly discovered that updates what we previously knew.
What advice would you give to future scientists?
Find something you’re passionate about by trying a lot of different things. Don’t focus too much on one subject until you find out what that passion is. Writing in a journal about your likes and dislikes can really help you home in on your passions.
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Shaley can be reached by email at shvalent@illinois.edu.