Jessica Willis

Current Employer/Organisation Name

Reefscapers

What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?

In the midst of my MSc in Marine Environmental Management, I did a three month unpaid internship with the Manta Trust at a base in the Maldives. During this internship, I spent 4-5 days a week freediving to collect photos of the branchial spot patterns of reef mantas to identify individuals and collect data forming part of a long-term population study. After this internship, I completed another unpaid internship the following year for reefscapers, a Maldives based company which focuses primarily on coral restoration and turtle rehabilitation. Without going into too much detail, I fell in love with coral and became hyper-focused on coral restoration practices. After my internship, I was offered a job with the company as a lead coral biologist where I managed a small team and a multi-genera restoration project. I also coordinated coral spawning ecology data collection. After a year in the Maldives, I am now looking for a similar role operating at a larger scale.

Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?

Coral reefs, like all marine ecosystems, are fundamental to the ocean and its inhabitants. With mounting thermal pressure to coral reefs year upon year, active restoration practices can take some of this pressure off by facilitating enhanced growth rates. The world of corals is weird and wonderful and there is a lot that we’re yet to discover, however time is running out. I chose this role to be part of the restoration and research as scientists try to find solutions to increase the likelihood that reef building corals still exist beyond the end of the century. I enjoy being in the water all the time of course and researching when I’m not, but by far my favourite part of this career is witnessing coral spawning.

What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?

During my undergrad, I enjoyed the field trips the most. The trip at the end of my first year to the Isles of Scilly was amazing as it opened my eyes to how beautiful the British isles can be. I thought the lecturers were great; half of my degree was during covid but they all put in a lot of effort to make it easier for us.

My masters degree was the most enjoyable for me as the modules were a lot more suited towards my interests. The highlight for me had to be the Maldives field course; it was my first time properly seeing a coral reef and I was obsessed. This field course has a huge part in influencing me to focus on reef building corals at this point in my career, so I’ll always be thankful to Julie and Callum for organising this experience for their students year on year.

What did you most enjoy about studying here?

I loved the friendly feel of Penryn campus, hence why I came back for my MSc. It felt like home from the minute I arrived.

Why did you choose to study at Exeter?

The international recognition that Exeter has definitely drew me in to apply, and once I visited for an open day I knew that was the only place I wanted to study. I actually didn’t have a backup university because after visiting others for my same course, I knew this was the only university for me.

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

My degree gave me some of the skills I needed, such as data analysis and species ID, to get me some of the way towards the experience I needed to get to where I am. The Maldives field course also gave me knowledge of coral reef health sampling techniques. My MSc desk based dissertation I wrote in collaboration with the Manta Trust undoubtedly helped in getting me an internship there, where I networked with people from Reefscapers. When I applied for the coral restoration internship the following year, they already knew me and so that had a hand in securing me a placement. This then lead onto a job, so really it’s been a chain of events set in motion by my MSc at Exeter. Also these roles just outright require at least a BSc so it’s helped in that way too of course.

What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?

If you’re looking to get into marine biology/ conservation, the field is saturated. Getting experience through internships is a great way to start, and you can build connections with people while there. In this field, experience and connections have been what have got me to where I am. If you want to work in the water, the jobs are even fewer. Employers will look for high levels of diving/freediving qualifications, species ID, sampling skills, experience with data analysis (R or GIS usually) spreadsheet handling, experience living/working in remote places.. the list goes on. My best advice is to remain determined, do the internships, soak up every bit of skills and knowledge your trainers afford you and have the confidence that one day that will be you.

What are your plans for the future?

Near future, I’m hoping to secure a job at a higher-tech coral restoration facility so I can continue to develop my skills and knowledge as a coral restoration practitioner, and I’d also like to begin a PhD focusing on coral spawning ecology sometime soon.