Roy Gilboa

Tell us about your work/research. What kinds of things do you do?

I am an engineer in Professor Christopher Roman's lab at the University of Rhode Island. My background is in mechanical engineering and has expanded to also include electronics. I deploy and maintain the lab's existing underwater vehicles and am helping to design and build new ones.

What sparked your initial interest in your career?

I grew up visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California and was fascinated by the animals on exhibit there. I loved digging up sand crabs at the beach and was fascinated by the mud we dredged and the plankton we netted on a school trip. While studying engineering, I realized that I could apply what I was learning towards finding out more about the ocean. After I had the opportunity to go on a research cruise as a MATE intern, I was hooked.

Who influenced you or encouraged you the most?

My parents, who didn't freak out when I said I was going to spend a month on a ship in Alaska, along with my former boss who told me that going to graduate school was a great idea.

What element of your work/study do you think is the most fascinating?

I love when the intangible becomes tangible. I recently stuck my hand in a huge bucket of midwater organisms that had been brought up from a net trawl. I was amazed by how much life there was in such a small space. Looking into that bucket was like peering into a petri dish. We had been tracking the animals with sonar, and it was exciting to use my own senses to learn about animals that had been dots on a computer screen up to that point.

How did you get involved with the Ocean Exploration Trust?

The lab I work for built the Deep Autonomous Profiler (DAP) lander which has previously been deployed from the E/V Nautilus. I will be deploying and supporting this lander on an upcoming cruise.

What other jobs led you to your current career?

I have worked as a mechanical engineer in both ocean-related and unrelated fields. I spent many hours in the machine shop as an undergraduate student and also had several rewarding ocean science-related internships both on and off shore.

What are your degrees and certifications?

BS Mechanical Engineering - University of California, Davis 2018
MS Ocean Engineering - University of Rhode Island 2022

What are your hobbies?

I spend a lot of time finding new places to hike and bike. When I'm at home, I frequently cook and bake (recent victory: soft pretzels with cheese sauce). I'm always trying new recipes. I have also managed to keep a jade plant alive longer than I expected.

What advice would you give someone who wants to have a career like yours?

Don't be afraid of learning something new, even if it's challenging.