Zac Cooper

Background

About Zac Cooper

At my core, I'm a creative problem solver. Science has always appealed to me as an avenue to ask questions and find answers using exploratory and quantitative methods. Pushing the frontier of knowledge and finding creative ways to get there are fundamental to my motivations. I earned my PhD in Oceanography and Astrobiology while studying the evolution and ecology of bacteria that live in extreme environments found in the Arctic and Antarctic. For my research, I have spent months of time in the field collecting samples and developing methods in unknown situations, I have worked in the lab to extract the maximum potential from rare and precious samples, and I have used computational methods to explore areas of genome science that are rarely explored in the natural environment. These experiences have given me a solid base of skills in laboratory microbiology, field deployment and management and problem solving, and in using computational tools to find meaningful answers to complex biological questions. For my career, I plan to use the skills I've gained to continue exploring the unknown and to find ways to make a difference for the future of life.