Philip Matich

Learn more about Philip Matich

Get To Know Philip Matich

What in your life drew you to your current field of study?

Exploring the natural world has provided me with venues to question how nature works. Growing up I spent much of my time outdoors hiking, camping, and canoeing, but living hundreds of miles from the ocean limited my exposure to the marine realm. A sense of adventure drew me away from my landlocked home across the country and the world pursuing opportunities to explore coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and the open ocean, progressively narrowing my interests to the seas' top predators, and what leads to both similarities and differences in their behaviors and ecological roles.

What do you hope your students gain from studying or working with you?

I hope that students learn to question their surroundings, and seek ways in which to answer those questions. In the courses I teach, I provide students with the background material needed to gain a broad understanding of the topic of interest, and then the opportunity to further explore that topic and ask questions that most interests them through their projects and assignments. I encourage students to deviate from the path and explore new avenues, challenge current paradigms in science and society, and find new ways to express their understanding of the natural world.

What are you passionate about in your personal life?

Being active, spending time outside, and experiencing new places with new people.

Education

Ph.D. Biology, Florida International University, 2014
B.S. Marine Science, University of South Carolina, 2007

Courses Taught

BIOL 111: Introductory Biology I
BIOL 112: Introductory Biology II
MARB 300: Scientific Methods
MARB 303: Biostatistics
MARB 320: Fisheries Techniques
MARB 403: Cetacean Behavior and Behavioral Ecology
MARB 411: Elasmobranch Ecology
MARB 426: Aquatic Animal Nutrition
MARB 445: Marine Fisheries Management
MARB 460: Fisheries Population Dynamics
MARB 482: Seminar in Marine Biology