Dr. George Matsumoto

Q. What research projects are you currently involved in?

A. I’m working on a cool group of little red jellies that live in the deep sea. I’m trying to understand who is who and what they are doing down there.

Q. What have you learned so far from your research?

A. I have learned that there are always surprises and exceptions to the rule. It’s important to remain open to almost anything because the deep sea has some pretty odd critters living in it.

Q. What is the most incredible thing that has happened to you while conducting your work?

A. I enjoyed diving with humpback whales and krill in Antarctica. Diving down in the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute’s JOHNSON-SEA-LINK submersible to 3,330 ft (1,000 m) depth was also great. I love seeing and identifying new species, too.

Q. What about doing work in the Monterey Bay region is most exciting to you?

A. Despite the fact that the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is one of the most well known and well studied marine areas in the world, we still find new species and new information with almost every expedition out to explore it.