WOMEN IN SEABIRD SCIENCE
Tania Suarez-Yana
she/her
Associate researcher
NGO Conservacción
Discipline
Conservation, Public/Community Engagement, Science Communication, Virology, Pathogens, Eco-epidemiology
Regional Focus
East Pacific; Humboldt Current; Latin America
Years Active
11-15 years
Species Focus
Albatrosses (Diomedeidae), Storm-Petrels (Hydrobatidae & Oceanitidae), Gulls and Terns (Laridae), Pelecans (Pelecanidae), Diving Petrels (Pelecanoididae), Cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae), Petrels and Shearwaters (Procellariidae), Penguins (Spheniscidae), Gannets and Boobies (Sulidae)
Tell us about your work with seabirds.
I have worked in seabird conservation since I graduated as a veterinarian some years ago. I began working on bycatch and clinical pathology in penguins, albatrosses and storm petrels. In my PhD studies, I have studied the antimicrobial resistance transmission pathways in gulls and pelicans in the East Pacific Region. More recently, I'm focusing on the temporal trends and seasonality of AMR in these seabird species. I'm interested in deepen in the AMR characterization of their microbiome and their immuno-susceptibility to emerging pathogens.
What advice would you offer to individuals aspiring to pursue a career as seabird scientists?
This science path comes with its ups and downs. Don't be hard with yourself and keep going whenever times get hard. Polish your networking skills, and take advantage of every opportunity that comes into your way, even though it seems not related to seabird conservation. It will paid off!
Tania is wearing a white shirt with black dots with her arms crossed. A forest and Andean mountains at the background.
Email:
Website:
Twitter:
Instagram:
@vet.consciente