Picture this: a sun-soaked day in Texas, the waves of the Gulf of Mexico gently rocking a boat as it heads out for a long day of shark tagging. That's how marine science alumnus Jared Handelman ’24 spent ten weeks in the summer of 2023, participating in a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at Texas A&M Galveston campus. Handelman’s story isn't just about the thrill of tracking bull sharks and alligator gar in coastal estuaries, though that alone is cool enough to make anyone consider changing their major. It’s a tale about dedication, the process of scientific discovery, and how a little guidance—and a lot of hard work—can open up opportunities that take you far beyond the classroom. 

It all started with his internal research at Stockton University. Working under the guidance of Biology Professor Dr. Adam Aguiar, Handelman honed his skills by studying and tagging striped bass. Through his Marine Science Professor and Advisor Dr. Mark Sullivan, Handelman applied for an NSF-sponsored REU, a program designed to give undergraduate students hands-on research experience. With his guidance, he applied to approximately twelve different REUs, each requiring personalized essays, letters of interest, and a demonstration of his academic background. "I’ve heard REUs can be more competitive than grad school," he explained, but he wasn’t intimidated. Instead, he took his shot, was chosen out of 500 applicants, and landed a spot at Texas A&M’s Galveston campus.

Arriving in Texas, he joined a diverse cohort of undergraduate students from all over the country. "It was a smooth transition," he recalls, reflecting on the friendships formed over a group dinner upon arrival. However, it wasn’t long before Handelman was thrown into the deep end—literally. "The day I arrived, I got recruited to go on a shark tagging trip at 2 a.m. the next morning," he said with a smile. Over the course of ten weeks, his days started before dawn, filled with long hours of fieldwork, tagging bull sharks, and collecting data on their movements. Using acoustic telemetry, a technique that tracks tagged animals through underwater transmitters, he helped monitor the sharks as they moved through their habitats, explaining the work was intense but rewarding.

Video credit: Jarel Handelman ' 24

While the hands-on experience with sharks was undoubtedly exciting, Handelman’s REU wasn’t all about fieldwork. He also learned advanced laboratory techniques, including stable isotope analysis, a method used to study the feeding and movement of marine species. 

Plus, he got to dive into computer programming, learning Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and statistical software, which he applied to analyze shark movement data. In addition to the technical skills students gain through the experience, the REU also helped prepare him and his peers for the future. The cohort attended seminars on scientific research, networking, and graduate school preparation, where he learned that the connections you make can be just as important as the work you do. "It’s not just what you know, it’s who you know," he says, a lesson that would prove crucial later on. He accredits his experiences because of the connections he made with the faculty at Stockton in both the marine science and biology programs. 

One of the most valuable takeaways from Handelman’s REU experience was the importance of networking. During his time at Texas A&M, he worked closely with two well-known marine biologists, Dr. David Wells and Dr. Jay Rooker. The connections he made would come full circle—his current position in the master’s in marine biology program at Louisiana State University (LSU) came about through a recommendation from his REU advisor’s Ph.D. student. Handelman also had the chance to present his research to the scientific community and his peers at the A&M Ocean Science and Research Symposium on the Galveston campus as well as the local LAUNCH Undergraduate Research Scholars Symposium at the main Texas A&M campus in College Station, where he rubbed shoulders with experts and fellow students in his field. Family members and special guests were invited to witness their poster presentations where Handelman not only had his family watching, but President Joe joined as well.

Handelman’s REU experience at Texas A&M Galveston wasn’t just about research – it was an adventure packed with discovery, shark tagging at dawn, and late-night data analysis. But what truly made the summer unforgettable were the friendships he built along the way. From that first group dinner to fieldwork in the Gulf, Handelman and his cohort bonded over their shared passion for marine science. These connections turned into lasting friends with regular catchups. For him, the REU wasn’t just a steppingstone in his career – it was the foundation of a lifelong network of friends and colleagues that made his summer both an unforgettable adventure and a pivotal step toward his future career in marine science.

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Advice for Aspiring Marine Scientists

For students considering an REU, Handelman’s story offers plenty of insight. First, having some research experience under your belt is helpful, but it’s not a dealbreaker if you don’t. "Some students in my cohort had never led their own project before," Handelman shared. "But they still learned how to build a research project from the ground up."

Secondly, persistence pays off. Applying for an REU can be competitive, and you might have to submit a lot of applications, but the effort is worth it for the experience and opportunities that follow.

Lastly, take full advantage of the networking opportunities that come your way. Handelman's connections from Texas A&M have not only helped him stay in the loop with his field but have opened doors to future research and career prospects. As his story shows, science is more than just textbooks and labs. It’s an adventure filled with early mornings, thrilling discoveries, and the camaraderie of like-minded peers. Whether you're tagging sharks or analyzing data in the lab, each step forward is part of a bigger journey into the fascinating world of marine science. And who knows? Maybe your next step will be an REU of your own.

 

Check out Handelman’s first published paper as primary author and  collaborated with PIs Dr. Adam Aguiar and Dana Christensen.