Highlighting the Student in Focus: Theodora Mautz at Scripps College
At the heart of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), Scripps Oceanography stands as one of the world's most significant centres for global earth science research and education. This prestigious institution is home to a vibrant community of researchers, including Theodora Mautz, a second-year PhD student studying marine biology.
Mautz, who grew up in Portland, Ore. and received her undergraduate degree in neuroscience from Harvard University, is currently focusing her research on the reproductive behaviors of cephalopods, a diverse group of marine creatures that includes squid, octopuses, cuttlefish, and nautiluses.
Mautz's fascination with cephalopods stems from their high intelligence and the diversity of reproductive strategies across species. Her work has been supported by both the Scripps Regents Fellowship during her first year and the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program.
One of the most notable cephalopod researchers at Scripps is Dr. James Wood, a marine biologist known for his pioneering work with deep-sea octopuses. Dr. Wood has been the first to observe mating, hatching, and rearing of any deep-sea octopus species in the lab, and is the co-author of Octopus: The Ocean’s Intelligent Invertebrate. He has also contributed significantly to the public understanding of cephalopods through documentaries and educational outreach.
The research conducted by Mautz and other cephalopod scientists at Scripps doesn't stop in the lab. They actively participate in public events, such as the Cephalopod Celebration at Birch Aquarium, where they showcase rare specimens from the Scripps Oceanographic Collections and provide expert knowledge on squid, octopus, and cuttlefish.
Mautz's research extends beyond cephalopods. She has worked on a collaborative study on the courtship behaviors of weedy seadragons with researchers, curators, and aquarists at Birch Aquarium at Scripps and the South-East Zoo Alliance for Reproduction and Conservation.
In the future, Mautz plans to continue her work in academia, aiming to become a professor with her own lab, working in a science museum, aquarium, research institute, or as a science writer. Despite her ambitions, Mautz acknowledges the challenge of knowing when and how to trust in her knowledge enough to present herself as an expert.
Scripps Oceanography offers unparalleled education and training for the next generation of scientific and environmental leaders. With its commitment to exploration and experimentation, it's no wonder that UC San Diego is consistently ranked among the top 15 research universities in the world.
Birch Aquarium at Scripps, the public exploration center, welcomes 500,000 visitors each year, providing an opportunity for the wider community to engage with the groundbreaking research being conducted at Scripps Oceanography. As Mautz and her fellow researchers continue to unravel the mysteries of the ocean, the future of marine biology looks bright indeed.
You can follow Theodora Mautz's research journey on Twitter @TheodoraMautz and on Facebook as The Semmens Lab.
[1] Wood, J. (2015). Octopus: The Ocean’s Intelligent Invertebrate. Greystone Books. [2] "Cephalopod Celebration at Birch Aquarium." (2019). Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Retrieved from https://scripps.ucsd.edu/events/cephalopod-celebration-birch-aquarium/
- Theodora Mautz, a marine biology researcher at Scripps Oceanography, is pursuing a PhD focused on cephalopods, and her work involves understanding their reproductive behaviors.
- In addition to lab work, Mautz and her fellow cephalopod scientists at Scripps actively participate in public events, such as the Cephalopod Celebration at Birch Aquarium, to educate the public about these fascinating creatures.
- Mautz envisions herself becoming a professor, working in an educational or research institution, or even as a science writer, aiming to contribute to the field of marine biology.
- Scripps Oceanography, with its unparalleled education and training programs, is helping to develop the next generation of scientific and environmental leaders, as evidenced by the continual advancements in the field of marine biology.
