Born: 1957

Hometown: Charleston, SC

Education: Ph.D. in Biogeochemistry and J.D. in Law

Occupation: Cave diver, geomicrobiologist

Expeditions: Diving into the ocean’s Black Holes and Blue Holes

Favorite Place: In a Blue Hole

Best Discovery: New bacteria that can heat water to 37°C, found when diving in a the Black Hole on South Andros Island in the Bahamas. Named the new bacterial species Allocromatium palmeirr in honor of her late husband

Favorite Items in the Field: Ice-cold, clean water

Personal Hero: Andy Hanson, diving instructor

Hobbies: Diving, sailing, tennis, swimming, rollerblading

Website: www.blueholes.org

Advice: Believe you can or believe you can’t. Either way you are right.