Melissa Betters
She/Her
I am bi and I am a deep-sea marine biologist.//
Hi! Nice to see you! I am currently a doctoral student at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. Before that, I grew up in SE Wisconsin, and attended Florida State University where I earned my B.S. in Biology. My research critically assesses the taxonomic diversity at chemosynthetic ecosystems on the ocean floor, and the environmental forces that generate this diversity. I have spent more than 2 months at sea, and have dove in a submarine 9 times! Even after 10 years, it is rare for me to encounter other queer biologists. I don’t think this is because we’re not there, but because we don’t always make ourselves visible. Well, now I’m visible to you! I have not always been comfortable being out in STEM, but contributing to this initiative is one way for me to say to myself and to you that we exist, we contribute meaningfully to our fields of research, and we have nothing to be ashamed of. In pursuing science, be sure to take time and cultivate those relationships in your life that help you be your authentic, happiest self. For me, this includes my family and my amazing girlfriend whom I adore.