Tessa Fisher
She/Her
I’m trans and a lesbian and I’m an astrobiologist. //
I’m a PhD student at Arizona State University, using network theory to try to develop better ways of detecting the presence of a biosphere on extrasolar planets. On the side, I also model biosphere productivity of high- and low-water planets, and, closer to home, help monitor the geobiochemistry of nearby Tempe Town Lake. I have a diverse academic background, having double-majored in astronomy and biology at the University of Virginia, and then received an MS in environmental science from Washington State University. When not analyzing chemical reaction networks, I’ve been known to partake in burlesque dancing, singing with my city’s LGBT women’s chorus, writing, and cuddling with my wife. I’ve been involved with ASU’s chapter of oSTEM, and am an advocate for greater LGBT visibility in the sciences.