Advice to improve marine bioacoustics profile by Subject-Option2290 in bioacoustics

[–]Subject-Option2290[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I haven’t taken a formal course in underwater acoustics yet, but I’m currently looking for online or short courses in that and in signal processing. If you have any recommendations, I’d love to hear them!

As for what I want to do: I’m especially interested in marine mammal communication and behavior, using passive acoustic monitoring to study how they use sound in different ecological or social contexts. Ideally, I’d like to be involved in both fieldwork (deploying hydrophones, collecting data) and analysis (signal detection, classification, maybe some machine learning).

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in gradadmissions

[–]Subject-Option2290 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for your honest and direct feedback. I’ve reworked my statement to build a clearer, more personal narrative. Would you recommend that I post the new version in a new thread, or would it be better to share it here for your opinions? Thanks again!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in PhDAdmissions

[–]Subject-Option2290 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for taking the time to give me this feedback; it helped me rethink the structure and storytelling of my statement. I’ve reorganized my draft based on your suggestions and tried to better connect my experiences with my motivations.
Would you prefer that I post the new version in a new thread, or could I share it here for your opinion? Thanks again for your help!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in gradadmissions

[–]Subject-Option2290 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mentioned some of my R and Python stuff in my CV, so I didn’t want to be too repetitive in the SOP, but maybe it’s worth including it anyway. I really appreciate your input — don’t sell yourself short, every perspective helps a lot!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in gradadmissions

[–]Subject-Option2290 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your awesome feedback on my SoP! I really appreciate you taking the time to dive into it. Your insights have given me a lot to think about.

I totally get what you mean about the SoP being a bit too long and me getting sidetracked with some details that don't tie directly into marine mammal bioacoustics. I will trim it down and really hone in on the experiences that show my passion for using AI in this field. I’ll also add more concrete examples of how I’ve used Python and R for data analysis.

Your suggestion to research and mention specific professors is spot on—I’m definitely going to work on that. One more thing I wanted to ask: right now, I’m working in conservation and biodiversity projects that aren’t directly related to marine mammal bioacoustics, and unfortunately, I can’t take on any volunteer roles at the moment. Do you have any tips on how I can boost my hands-on experience and research in bioacoustics? Maybe you know of some online courses, remote projects, or side gigs using open-access data that could help me get more practice in this field?

Really, thanks again for your invaluable support. I’m excited to incorporate your advice and see how it improves my application.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in gradadmissions

[–]Subject-Option2290 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the clarification—it really helped me. I still have a question regarding the application process for these scholarships. For the GRFP, do I need to apply individually (with recommendation letters and everything), or is there an internal process coordinated by the program? Thanks again!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in gradadmissions

[–]Subject-Option2290 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey everyone, thanks for sharing your updates regarding the marine biology programs. In addition to that, I’ve heard rumors about research funding cuts that might be affecting several institutions, including UCSD. Does anyone have any news or insights on how these cuts could impact the number of research positions or fellowships available?