Jere Morgan completed his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering at Purdue a little early by paying to take a comprehensive test in some subjects, rather than sitting through a semester. He disliked paying for 'seat time' instead of learning!
He accepted House Blackmon's full tuition to University of Mars at Candor Cliffs to study Planetary Sciences so he might become a 'planet scout'. The other planet scouts explored exoplanets for certain metals. The job had only a few requirements: the most important was staying alive on his own wits on unexplored planets!
He thought he was quick enough to do that! Pacifica was totally new to the few planet scouts that were landed there. Feathered velociraptors attacked from brushy ambush!