Sallie Watson Chisholm

Chisholm is a biological oceanographer, whose research is focused on understanding of the role of microorganisms in shaping marine ecosystems. Currently her research is centered on understanding the biology and ecology of Prochlorococcus, which is the smallest and most abundant photosynthetic microorganism on Earth.  It numerically dominates large regions of the world’s oceans and is responsible for a sizable fraction of ocean photosynthesis. Chisholm's laboratory studies this microbe across all scales of biological organization, from their genomes  to the global biosphere. Using this cross-scale systems approach she hopes to better understand the design and evolution of living systems.

Chisholm is also committed to making basic scientific concepts accessible to the public and has published a number of children's books on the role of photosynthesis in shaping our world.