Early Career Committee

The Early Career (EC) Committee of the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) actively acknowledges the challenges many aquatic scientists face during the critical early stages of their careers. The existing challenges related to funding, financial stability, mental health, and others, were amplified by the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, which has made, an as of yet incalculable impact on life and work of early career scientists, some of whom have first entered profession life during the crisis. The ASLO community offers help and support to early career aquatic scientists in numerous ways to ensure that these scientists are not lost during this ongoing period of change. Specifically, the EC committee encourages aquatic-science early career researchers and professionals to lean on their community for support and guidance (through e.g., virtual mentoring sessions, webinars, and informal networking opportunities). Together, through our shared science, and unique experiences, we can address our concerns for the future, and continue to grow scientifically and societally during, and following, the pandemic.

Current activities and opportunities provided by the EC committee are targeted to early career researchers who have completed their Ph.D. and are within 10 years of graduation. Such activities include services related to ASLO meetings (e.g., travel awards, networking, mixers and workshops), the Amplifying Voices webinar series, as well as providing information on career opportunities (e.g., job postings, resources, opportunities). The EC Committee is continuously working on innovative offers and programs for early career aquatic scientists and we hope to interact with new researchers in the future.
Email: [email protected]

Mina Bizic, Chair (to 7/24)
Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Department of Plankton and Microbial Ecology, Berlin, Germany
Email: [email protected] | Twitter: @Minabizic
Website: www.igb-berlin.de/en/profile/mina-bizic

ASLO values diversity in Aquatic Sciences, and in this respect, I feel at home!

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!

Ying Ping Lee (to 12/25)
Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://co.aori.u-tokyo.ac.jp/mic/member-3/

Let us hear your voice!

I am working on trace metal biogeochemistry focusing on the Fe and Cu complexation and redox kinetics. Currently, my focus is the ligand binding capacity of humic substances and microbial exudates with Cu in seawater. The motivation for serving ASLO ECR is that I wish to engage with those young and bright researchers especially those who are shy and reluctant to make direct contact with people and provide them a platform to seek advice and opportunity through the ASLO ECR program.

Karin Meinikmann (to 12/25)
Julius Kuehn Institute, Institute for Ecological Chemistry, Plant Analysis and Stored Product Protection, Berlin, Germany
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.julius-kuehn.de/en/oepv/staff/p/s/karin-meinikmann/

Working for the ASLO Early Career Sub-Committee to make a difference

My research interests are transport and fate of pollutants (pesticides) and nutrients in agricultural catchments. In this context, I focus on hydrological interactions between surface water bodies and groundwater as an important vector for the propagation of substances in the landscape.

As a scientist you are not only responsible for yourself and your work. Your findings can affect politics, society, ecology, and many more. By its many initiatives focusing on a variety of global challenges directly or indirectly related to aquatic sciences, ASLO perfectly represents this responsibility. Joining ASLO's Early Career Sub-Committee enabled me to actively contribute to and support this valuable work.

Cale A.C. Gushulak (to 12/23)
Institute of Environmental Change and Society (IECS), University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Email: [email protected] | Twitter: @CaleGushulak

Start your career supported by the ASLO ECR

I work on eutrophied lake systems in the semi-arid prairie region of Canada. Specifically, my research examines the interactions of climate change, agriculture, and other human activities on lake-water quality and quantity, production, and harmful algal blooms over multiple time scales. I joined the ASLO ECC to help combat the challenges and hardships faced by graduate students and postdocs as they transition from student to career scientist. I am particularly passionate by highlighting the contributions and experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals in the global aquatic science community.

Anwesha Ghosh (to 12/23)
Center for Climate and Environmental Studies, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, India
Email: [email protected] | Twitter: @Anweghosh
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/drghoshanwesha/home

Let's get the ball rolling! Let's talk science.

Hello from India. I am a microbial ecologist and my core research focuses on understanding coastal carbon cycling. I worked with bacterioplankton during my PhD and have shifted focus on phytoplankton for my postdoc. My current research includes studying the influence of ocean acidification on coastal phytoplankton communities. During my work, I had opportunities to meet with many interesting scientists from around the world. These interactions not only made me a better researcher but also helped me grow connections with like-minded individuals with whom new exciting ideas would be shared. This also motivated me to join the ECR committee which provided me with a platform to further my international connections with other ECRs.

Rebecca Gladstone-Gallagher (to 12/25)
Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Email: [email protected] | Twitter: @kelly_luis1
Website: profiles.auckland.ac.nz/rebecca-gladstone-gallagher

Navigate your early science careers with international support networks!

Hi from New Zealand! I am a coastal marine ecologist, and my research focuses on understanding how estuarine soft-sediment ecosystems function, respond to changing environmental drivers, and recover from stress. I am deeply interested in testing ecological theories in the field and linking concepts to frameworks that can assess how the cumulative effects of multiple stressors affect coastal ecosystems.

I joined the ASLO early career committee because I wanted to contribute to international initiatives that help early career researchers navigate their exciting careers with the support of an internationally diverse network. I am excited and honoured to serve on this committee, and I believe that the connectivity ASLO is facilitating will support so many of us!

Carolinne Rosa de Carvalho (to 12/25)
“Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil
Email: [email protected] | Twitter: @carolinnerdc

Only together we can move forward!

Hello from Brazil! I am a Doctor in Agricultural Microbiology who has been adventuring myself in microbiology for about 10 years now. My main interest is in microbial ecology using molecular approaches, which made it easier to travel from health sciences to agricultural management and finally end up in aquatic systems. Currently, I am working with oxic methane production by cyanobacteria from Brazilian saline/alkaline lakes.

I decided to join the ASLO ECR because one of my main concerns in academia is cooperation beyond our own papers and lab. I believe that interacting with others with a similar aim of improving collaborations and scientific connections can be very powerful. Only good ideas can come from those who want to move forward to the future by thinking about the collective's well-being and improvements. I am very excited to help and be part of it!

Heili Lowman (to 12/25)
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, United States of America
Email: [email protected] | Twitter: @heili_lowman
Website: www.heililowman.com

Offering support, removing barriers, and creating opportunities for the next generation of aquatic scientists

I am an aquatic biogeochemist and environmental data scientist. My research is focused along ecological margins - terrestrial/aquatic, wildland/urban - and how these environments respond to and recover from disturbance (e.g., warming, wildfire, storms). I utilize a number of data science approaches in my research, ranging from Bayesian multilevel and time series models as well as interactive data dashboards and collaborative coding workflows. As a member of the Early Career Committee, I look forward to contributing to ASLO’s programs highlighting early career voices, promoting international collaborations, and supporting mentorship and skill-building networks.

Bianca Rodríguez-Cardona (to 12/25)
Département des Sciences Biologiques,Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada
Email: [email protected] | Twitter: @BRodzCardona

Opening doors for the underrepresented

My research is in aquatic biogeochemistry focusing on carbon processing in boreal lakes and reservoirs. I am interested in how carbon is transported from terrestrial landscapes to aquatic systems and how it’s processed and transformed. As an ECC member, I look forward to engaging with my fellow early career scientists as well as helping each other in our professional development by fostering a support network. As a Latina in a science field, I am interested in helping to provide opportunities for underrepresented communities, especially those in Latin America, to encourage representation and participation in ASLO.

Shimi Rii (to 12/25)
Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Kāneʻohe, Hawaiʻi, United States of America
Email: [email protected] | Twitter: @shimirii
Website: shimirii.wordpress.com/

Connections and relationships are important to increase resilience and diversity in science - together, we can do it!

Aloha mai kākou! I am a phytoplankton ecologist, and my work now focuses on estuarine productivity and temporal dynamics of organisms living in various estuarine habitats. Within the Heʻeia National Estuarine Research Reserve, I support students to conduct research with Indigenous land stewards, aligned with tenets of reciprocity and equity. I am a fierce believer in individualized life mentoring to promote diverse forms of success in science. As part of the ASLO Early Career Committee, I am excited to make connections and build international pathways for helping this crucial stage (early career) succeed and find our voices in the future of science.

Pascal Bodmer (to 12/25)
Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Département des sciences biologiques, Montreal, Canada
Email: [email protected] | Twitter: @BodmerPascal

Navigating through the stormy sea of the early career stage, we are in this together!

I am an aquatic biogeochemist working on carbon dynamics in various freshwater systems. My research spans from methane production in sediments to carbon fluxes at the water-air interface and from carbon-related processes at small scales to large-scale patterns on landscape scales.

As an ASLO's Early Career Committee member, I want to support other early career aquatic scientists on our uncertain and challenging journey. We all face similar challenges and obstacles, which gives us the opportunity to work and grow together. Let's do this!

Ngozi Oguguah (to 12/25)
Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research Lagos Nigeria
Email: [email protected] | Twitter: @ngozimoguguah

Building strategic and effective networks

I have a PhD in Fisheries Biology, I work on pollution prevention, monitoring, and possible health effects on humans. I am very passionate about mentoring and capacity building of next generation STEM leaders.

Serving on the ASLO board built my leadership skills and enabled me to learn more about working and serving in a multicultural, multidisciplinary international association.

As an ASLO Early Career Committee member, I want to support other Early Career members and help deliver ASLO’s objectives to them.

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