I’m Melisa Diaz!

Hello! My name is Melisa Diaz and I am currently a Postdoctoral Scholar at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Starting August 2022, I will begin an appointment as an Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder with the Department of Geography and the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR). I am an interdisciplinary scientist and use geochemistry as a tool to bridge physical, biological, and social sciences. My core research focuses on the geochemistry of ice-free and ice-covered environments in both the Arctic and Antarctic and applying this knowledge towards understanding landscape development, biogeochemical cycling, biogeography, and habitat suitability.

My PhD research focused on the Shackleton Glacier, a major outlet glacier of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. Our primary research objective was to understand the structure and functioning of soil ecosystems following glacial advance and retreat.

This was an exciting project because it gave me the opportunity to frame my geochemistry research in the context of ecology. I am joining the McMurdo Long-Term Ecological Research team (MCM-LTER) next year as a Co-PI, which will enable me to continue studying these connections. In the meantime, I will be heading to Helheim Glacier, Greenland this April (2022) to drill shallow ice cores in the glacier catchment and will be working on sea ice cores with scientists from the Network for Ocean Worlds (NOW) and Exploring Ocean Worlds (ExOW). It’ll be an exciting year!

My core research focuses on the geochemistry of ice-free and ice-covered environments in both the Arctic and Antarctic and applying this knowledge towards understanding landscape development, biogeochemical cycling, biogeography, and habitat suitability.

I am Caribbean-American, born in New York City and raised in Massachusetts as a proud Afro-latina. I’m a first-generation college student and the only person in my extended family to earn a bachelors degree, masters, and doctorate. I am also the first Latina to earn a PhD from my graduate department and one of few black/brown scientists to work on both ice sheets. These “firsts” have meant that I am a minority within a minority, and could not rely on generational knowledge or career mentorship from my family and community. As a result, my scientific journey has taken many twists and turns.

I’m excited to be a part of groups like Polar Impact and the Society for the Advancements of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) so that I can receive and provide mentorship to diverse scientists. I am extremely dedicated and eager to reduce barriers for scientists, especially scientists of color, to excel in polar research. I’ve established an exciting career in polar sciences and have become a part of a wonderful and improving community that I hope to share and broaden.

I’m a first-generation college student and the only person in my extended family to earn a bachelors degree, masters, and doctorate. These “firsts” have meant that I am a minority within a minority, and could not rely on generational knowledge or career mentorship from my family and community.

My mom is Puerto Rican and my dad is Dominican, so food is a big part of my life. While finding the proper ingredients and making adjustments to accommodate my vegetarian lifestyle can be difficult, cooking helps me feel connected to my roots regardless of where I am.

In my free time, I enjoy rock climbing (only indoors since I’m terrified of spiders) and juggling. In fact, I was a semi-professional juggler in college!

You can follow Melisa on Twitter @EarthMAD.