Dr. Melissa DeBiasse

I am interested in understanding biodiversity patterns in marine invertebrates like comb jellies, sponges, cnidarians, and sea stars. In my research I use information from DNA and RNA sequences to determine how organisms respond to their environment over short (minutes, hours, or days) and long (hundreds of millions of years) periods of time. I spend most of my time analyzing data on high power computers, a medium amount of time performing experiments in the lab, and a little bit of time going out into the field. Some of my past and current projects include: i) comparing how copepod crustaceans from different populations adjust to changes in salinity, ii) searching the DNA sequences of sea stars to find regions that make them resistant to disease, and iii) testing how sponges respond to the sea slugs that prey on them.

My lab is based on respect, inclusivity, compassion, curiosity, and boldness. I believe that all folks have a place in academia and science, regardless of their identities, experiences, and backgrounds. We make the most progress (and have the most fun!) when everyone is welcome and valued.

Undergraduate students have played very important roles in my research program, from executing field experiments to performing molecular biology lab work to conducting computational analyses. I encourage students interested in working with me to reach out with questions or ideas!

 You can find more details about my research here: https://melissadebiasse.weebly.com/