Justin Remmers joined INHS on February 16 as a Postdoctoral Researcher. He did his undergraduate work at Missouri Southern State University majoring in Biology. After graduating, he spent time with the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in the education department and desert and nocturnal mammal collection. He moved to New Hampshire to complete his Master’s of Environmental Sciences with a concentration in Conservation Biology and studied population structuring of the endangered Blanding’s turtle for his thesis. He then completed his PhD at Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. There he studied occupancy and co-occurrence of forest wildlife in southern Illinois as well as the impacts of legal harvest on furbearing species in the state.
What is your background before coming to work at the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS)?
I received my Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from Missouri Southern State University and attended Antioch University of New England for my master’s program. I recently received my Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale studying occupancy and co-occurrence of forest wildlife in southern Illinois. Throughout my academic career I have had several opportunities to work with animals and educating others about the natural world. These included an internship with the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, being a camp naturalist for a summer camp, co-chair for a student organized seminar series, and visiting local elementary schools to discuss animals, wildlife, and science.
What are you looking forward to the most in your new role at INHS?
I am looking forward to developing as a researcher and, through my work, providing useful insights for effective management and conservation. As researchers, the issues we seek to address are ever increasing; however, we live in a world with unparalleled advancements and tools to tackle these issues. I look forward to learning more and doing my part to contribute to the broader scientific community in addressing these challenges.
How old were you when you first became interested in science? What sparked your interest?
Truthfully, I cannot remember when I first became interested in science, as my natural curiosity has been a permanent staple in my life for as long as I can think. Even as a young child, I enjoyed the outdoors and learning about the natural world. Growing up, my family would often visit zoos, national parks, and museums, where I was enthralled by everything I saw.
Who or what drew you to this field?
While I have always loved the natural world and wanted it to be a part of my life, I did not immediately know what field I wanted to pursue. My first interest was actually in paleontology as I loved dinosaurs as a child. However, when I was 13 my parents brought me to a fossil dig, and I quickly realized that the field was not for me. So I turned my passion and natural curiosity towards extant animal species and have been satisfied with my decision ever since.
What question do you get asked most frequently about your career?
Do I consider all the schooling and work to be worth it is a question I have received, especially from those thinking about pursuing higher education or advanced degrees. It is no secret that to pursue graduate work in the sciences is often spending long hours doing a lot of work for often little monetary compensation. However, I tell people that if this is something that you are truly passionate about and feel strongly about, the work is incredibly rewarding.
What are some challenges you’ve faced in your career?
I have moved around a lot to pursue my career. Aside from the logistical issues coming with moving between states or across the country, this has often meant being further away from friends and family for long periods of time. Trying to find ways to maintain relationships with people often hundreds of miles away is not always easy; however, modern technology has certainly made it far more manageable.
What advice would you give to future scientists?
People will often say that to be a good scientist requires you to be the smartest person around. In my experience there are three other qualities that are much more important: determination, passion, and honesty. People who are passionate and willing to put in the hard work and long hours can achieve in science, and if you come with an open and honest mindset, willing to acknowledge when you are mistaken and ready to learn more, then anyone can become a capable scientist that others want to work with.
What is your guilty pleasure?
My guilty pleasure is a really bad, Hallmark-style romance movie. As someone who is usually pretty critical of books, TV shows and movies, there is something about these kinds of movies that just hits right.
What do you like to do on your days off?
I read a lot, listen to audio books, and enjoy going for hikes and long walks to areas I haven’t been to yet. I like playing video games with my friends and watching cooking competition shows.
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Justin can be reached by email at jremmers@illinois.edu.
