UD alumna Julie N. Meyer has been named a recipient of he L'Oreal USA For Women in Science fellowship.

Meyer honored

UD marine biosciences alumna receives L'Oreal USA For Women in Science fellowship

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8:57 a.m., Oct. 29, 2015--University of Delaware alumna Julie N. Meyer has been named a 2015 recipient of the L’Oreal USA’s For Women in Science fellowship for her research on “the role of microbial interactions in the health and stability of coral reefs.”

Candidates were selected based on intellectual merit, research potential, scientific excellence and commitment to encouraging women in science.

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Meyer, who graduated with her doctoral degree in marine biosciences in 2009, is currently a postdoctoral scientist in marine microbiology at the University of Florida. She was one of five female scientists selected for this honor, which includes $60,000 to help advance their research, according to a L’Oreal press release.

Meyer’s research focuses on black band disease, which affects many species of reef-building corals, specifically through tissue degradation. 

In collaboration with the Smithsonian Marine Station, Meyer is studying how shifts in the microorganisms within corals are associated with the disease. She will use the fellowship to further develop her postdoctoral research, which includes the sequencing of whole genomes. 

Meyer also plans to “produce a short documentary film highlighting the work of women in coral reef research.” She will share the documentary online and with girls in her local area in order to increase their exposure to the variety of scientific careers available to them.

During her time at UD, Meyer was advised by Craig Cary, a professor emeritus in the School of Marine Science and Policy, which is housed in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment

“Julie worked on a variety of exciting projects ranging from developing molecular tools to examining bacteria entombed under 3.5 kilometers of ancient ice from Lake Vostok, Antarctica, to characterizing bacteria cultured from the back of a worm found living on the hot chimneys found in deep-sea hydrothermal vents,” said Cary, currently a professor in biological sciences and director in DNA sequencing at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand.

“Her work was extremely interdisciplinary, requiring her to cross over between molecular biology, geochemistry and microbial ecology.”

Meyer received the award during a ceremony in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 22, attended by elected officials, policymakers and leaders in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education coalition.

Article by Cody Harrington

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