Heidi Sosik is an American

biologist A biologist is a scientist who conducts research in biology. Biologists are interested in studying life on Earth, whether it is an individual Cell (biology), cell, a multicellular organism, or a Community (ecology), community of Biological inter ...

, oceanographer, and inventor based at the

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI, acronym pronounced ) is a private, nonprofit research and higher education facility dedicated to the study of marine science and engineering. Established in 1930 in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, it i ...

Career

She is a senior scientist in the Stanley W. Watson Chair for Excellence in Oceanography; Director of WHOI's Center for Ocean, Marine, and Seafloor Observing Systems; Chief Scientist of the Martha's Vineyard Coastal Observatory (MVCO); and lead scientist for the Northeast United States Shelf Long Term Ecological Research program. She is the co-creator of the Imaging FlowCytobot, an automated underwater

microscope A microscope () is a laboratory instrument used to examine objects that are too small to be seen by the naked eye. Microscopy is the science of investigating small objects and structures using a microscope. Microscopic means being invisibl ...

that has been used to study microscopic (10-150 micron in size) ocean life over time and to prevent

shellfish poisoning Shellfish poisoning includes four syndromes that share some common features and are primarily associated with bivalve molluscs (such as mussels, clams, oysters and scallops.) As filter feeders, these shellfish may accumulate toxins produced by ...

. Her inventions and research in phytoplankton ecology has revolutionized the ability to track changes in

phytoplankton Phytoplankton () are the autotrophic (self-feeding) components of the plankton community and a key part of ocean and freshwater ecosystems. The name comes from the Greek words (), meaning 'plant', and (), meaning 'wanderer' or 'drifter'. Ph ...

community composition over time, including at the MVCO time series site, as part of the Northeast United States Shelf Long Term Ecological Research program and through research labs that utilize the commercially available Imaging FlowCytobot and expertise provided by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Plankton Wiki page.

Research

Sosik's research broadly focuses on phytoplankton ecology, including observations that help explain controls on phytoplankton community composition, distribution of phytoplankton in the ocean and productivity of this portion of the marine food web. Her work focuses on observing natural systems, but utilizes engineering, mathematics, modeling and theory to resolve questions spanning single cells to regional scale patterns that can be observed from

ocean color Ocean color is the branch of ocean optics that specifically studies the color of the water and information that can be gained from looking at variations in color. The color of the ocean, while mainly blue, actually varies from blue to green or ...

satellite sensors.

Education

Sosik completed her undergraduate (1987) and masters (1988) degrees in civil engineering at MIT and her doctorate (1993) in oceanography from Scripps Institution of Oceanography (UC San Diego).

Recognition

Sosik received the

Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers The Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) is the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on outstanding scientists and engineers in the early stages of their independent research careers. The White ...

, and was part of a team that received a 35 million dollar

grant Grant or Grants may refer to: Places *Grant County (disambiguation) Australia * Grant, Queensland, a locality in the Barcaldine Region, Queensland, Australia United Kingdom *Castle Grant United States * Grant, Alabama *Grant, Inyo County, C ...

from The Audacious Project for their research into the

ocean The ocean (also the sea or the world ocean) is the body of salt water that covers approximately 70.8% of the surface of Earth and contains 97% of Earth's water. An ocean can also refer to any of the large bodies of water into which the wo ...

’s twilight zone. She was named a 2018

Fellow A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...

of The

Oceanography Oceanography (), also known as oceanology and ocean science, is the scientific study of the oceans. It is an Earth science, which covers a wide range of topics, including ecosystem dynamics; ocean currents, waves, and geophysical fluid dynamic ...

Society and the Rachel Carson Lecturer for the 2019

American Geophysical Union The American Geophysical Union (AGU) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of Earth, atmospheric, ocean, hydrologic, space, and planetary scientists and enthusiasts that according to their website includes 130,000 people (not members). AGU's act ...

Honors Program.

References

Year of birth missing (living people) Living people American marine biologists 21st-century American biologists American oceanographers 21st-century American women scientists Recipients of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers {{portal, Oceans