Craig Aumack, a Ph.D. student in biology at UAB, once went skydiving near a mountain in Hawaii. This was after he signed on for a scuba diving expedition in the Arctic Ocean - twice.
"When I have the opportunity to do something I probably won't have the opportunity to do again, I usually take it," he said.
That's why Craig, 29, went looking for a Ph.D. program involving research in Antarctica. "I decided I really wanted to stay in polar science, but it was time to go to the other pole."
Although he is a veteran of five arctic expeditions (two on land and three at sea), Craig will be making his first trip to Antarctica in February. In his research this expedition, Craig and other team members will collect macroalgae samples to find out what organisms are living there and why.
His interest in science was inspired by one of his high school science teachers in California. His focus on algae was inspired by dives in Monterrey and Big Fisherman's Cove in California.
"Growing up near Monterrey, I fell in love with kelp beds, and knew I wanted to work in marine science."
After getting his bachelor's degree in evolution, ecology and marine biology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Craig continued his biology studies at the University of Texas at Austin and received a master's in marine science in 2003.
Craig came to UAB in August 2005 for the chance to work with veteran Antarctic researchers Charles D. Amsler, Ph.D., and James B. McClintock, Ph.D.
"They are a source of information and support to our studies and they work well together as a team."
Craig's research on this expedition will find him diving into the icy waters with other teammates to collect species of macroalgae searching for keys to understanding how the chemical ecology of algae are affecting the overall marine community structure.
When he's not researching and teaching, Craig likes to watch professional and college football, so he enjoys living in Alabama, a state that teems with interest in college football. His favorite pro team is the Dallas Cowboys.
His long-term goal is to be a polar research scientist and/or a college faculty member. In the near term, he's looking forward to a new experience, getting the chance to work in a new environment.
He is excited at the prospect of exploring a new continent, especially with such an experienced team of researchers. His mother? Not so much. He once asked her if she preferred he scuba dive or sky dive. He knew her answer would be scuba diving.
"Mom thinks it's great," he said. "She just worries."