Early Career Committee

Hello everyone! It's an honor to be appointed as the chair of the Early Career Committee (ECC) of ASLO. I’ve been an active member of ASLO since 2015. From 2020 - 2022 I served on the ECC and co-organized the Ocean Sciences Meeting (OSM22). I received recognition as an “outstanding L&O reviewer”. From July 2022 I am an ASLO Member-At-Large and serve on the ASLO board.

I am an aquatic microbial ecologist conducting research with broad interdisciplinary interests covering both freshwater and marine environments. My research is currently divided between studying succession of microorganisms on organic matter aggregates, focusing on individual particles, and my recent discovery of photosynthesis-associated methane production by phytoplankton.

At the ECC, all 12 members work enthusiastically on developing ways to support the early career aquatic scientists from our global community. Since ethnic diversity can promote diverse approaches to our science, in the ECC, we are investing in efforts to bridge cultural gaps and improve the connectivity between aquatic scientists of all colors, genders, sexual orientations, and ethnic origins. Being in a formative stage of our scientific careers, the Early Career Scientists, represent a particularly vulnerable group within the society, therefore, by being Early Career Scientists ourselves, we are aware of the possible effects academic career has on the mental health at this stage of career. Accordingly, we are now organizing a Mental Health Month at ASLO, to equip researchers in aquatic sciences, at all stages of their career, with tools necessary to address their own or their peers’ mental health related issues.

In ASLO the early career aquatic scientists have a say! Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me if you want to talk about early career issues or ideas, share experiences, mentor peers, and create impact through community engagement!