Grace Saba, Assistant Professor at Rutgers University, shares her story; highlighting how curiosity, supportive mentors and colleagues, and perseverance ultimately have allowed her to contribute to and advance the field of ocean acidification science in the Northeast US.
What drew you to the field of ocean acidification science?
I grew up in Kansas on a farm, with many siblings. We spent a lot of time at the creek behind our house, and I was fascinated by the crawdads, tadpoles and algal mats. When I was about 8 I told my mom I wanted to be a marine biologist. She gifted me Jacque Cousteau’s ‘The Ocean World’ book and that sealed the deal.
I started my undergraduate studies at Kansas State University, majoring in biology, and realized I would rather pursue a degree in marine science. We had family in California, so I moved there and started working to save for school while attending Santa Monica Community College. After a few years, I applied to and started attending University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB).
I had the opportunity to work in two different labs at UCSB and really blossomed by gaining skills in organismal ecology and physiology, specifically how organisms respond to the environment. I worked with Alice Alldredge on zooplankton ecology, marine snow, and carbon flux and with Jim Childress on deep sea and hydrothermal vent organisms. In addition to laboratory work, I had the incredible opportunity to go on several research cruises, including one where I traveled 2500 meters to the depths of the ocean in the underwater submersible Alvin. In my final year, I started conversations with Deborah Steinberg at Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) about pursuing a PhD under her mentorship to study zooplankton ecology and biogeochemical cycles in the Chesapeake Bay. I was particularly excited about the interdisciplinary nature of the research and the opportunity to work in different labs learning various methodologies. I was surrounded by super supportive female faculty, specifically Deborah Steinberg and Deborah Bronk - the two Debbies were my guiding lights through graduate school. The culmination of my childhood and undergraduate and graduate research experiences have made me the scientist I am today - dedicated to solving real world ocean issues, particularly focused on marine pollution and climate change.
What projects or research are you working on now?
My current research is focused on the ecology and physiology of coastal marine organisms, with emphasis on how anthropogenic factors, including climate change and pollution affect these processes. I apply multiple techniques to address research questions - from laboratory experiments to ocean observing - and work locally and all the way in Antarctica. I started here at Rutgers as a post-doctoral research associate focused on studying aspects of Antarctic krill ecology in the west Antarctic Peninsula region under the mentorship of Oscar Schofield. It was during this project I conducted my first experiment focused on ocean acidification. I had planned to apply this research to Mid-Atlantic species, but when I looked through the scientific literature to understand the natural conditions here, I realized we have very little data to design realistic experiments.
I asked Oscar, who co-founded the Rutgers University Center for Ocean Observing Leadership (RUCOOL)regional observatory with satellite, high-frequency radar and underwater glider technology, ‘why can’t we put pH sensors on a glider?” At that time, these sensors weren’t developed enough to withstand pressure changes that would come with the vertically profiling nature of gliders. But eventually, with support from the National Science Foundation, we were able to integrate an advanced pH sensor into a glider. That project was a great learning experience and was the first time working with that level of ocean observation technology and interacting with industry that allowed us to ultimately get a pH sensor on a glider for applied use to monitor ocean acidification in coastal systems. Now that we have seasonal carbonate chemistry data in the region, we can better understand what the organisms are exposed to and may soon be able to determine their thresholds of tolerance.
What is your typical day like?
In the pandemic the responsibilities are the same, the mode of communication is simply different. I teach, conduct research and serve on various committees at Rutgers, nationally, and internationally. Depending on the day I may focus on one of these areas more than others. I communicate with students to make sure they have what they need and that they’re set up for success. I also spend time writing research proposals and manuscripts, and supporting students and technicians in carrying out experiments and maintaining my lab day to day. I do still get into the field occasionally, whether it’s a research cruise or glider deployment. And that is still my favorite part of the job!
Who do you look to as a role model and why?
I’m very fortunate to have my PhD advisor Deborah Steinberg as a role model. She’s the kind of scientist and human being that you strive to be. She’s brilliant, very good at communicating, and demonstrates how to successfully balance work and family by excelling in both places. Through her example, I’ve learned what it means to be a good scientist both at work and not at work.
What does success mean to you?
I see success in people who are well respected in the field, approachable, and really good at communicating to diverse audiences. To pass on skills and knowledge and provide meaningful mentorship, you have to have those qualities. There are different levels of success, and currently I’m working toward my next goal of tenure. The measure of life long success as a scientist is continuing to be happy and enjoy doing what I’m doing - and producing and supporting the next generation of students that move on to be successful and contribute to the field of ocean science.
What was the best advice ever given to you that helped you become successful?
There is one funny and memorable piece of advice. It was my first year of graduate school, and out of the blue Debbie Steinberg said, ‘I just want you to know now, that there’s never a good time to have a baby in this field. So when you’re ready, just do it.’ While I was in graduate school, I did get married then had a baby during my final year. I’ve now had the experience of having a child while in graduate school and also as a faculty. They were different experiences and different levels of stress in terms of the balancing act and being a woman in science. But she was certainly right, there is no right time -but there is no wrong time either, and it can be done.
Another tip came from my colleagues at Rutgers: working with colleagues that share an equal level of excitement about a project is invaluable. If you work with people you enjoy, then work life will be much more enjoyable.
What challenges have you faced as a woman, and how have you overcome them?
I’ve been really fortunate to be surrounded by people that have been supportive of me and my career and women in science in general. I’m lucky to have had that support system and empathize with those who haven’t. I don’t take it for granted and recognize that the people that I’m working with are a true support system. I aim to be that support system for other women in science as well.
What’s been your proudest moment in your career so far? What do you hope to accomplish in the future?
Being offered a tenure-track position at Rutgers! For me, it conveyed that I was doing good work and it felt wonderful to have that confirmation from my University. I’m looking ahead to another proud moment - my first PhD student defending near the end of this year.
Looking back, what would you tell yourself when you were 12 years old? Or what advice would you give to a woman just starting out in her career?
Persevere...stick to it! Balancing family and work life isn’t easy, but it can be done!
In terms of the gender gap between men and women in marine science, it’s typically not at the student level, it’s at the tenured faculty and higher levels and women in leadership positions in ocean science. This is thought to be associated with external circumstances around family-work life balance. In the future, I hope to get involved at a higher level and work on institutional support that puts systems in place to help mothers (and fathers) maintain successful careers while having families.
What do you hope the future for women in science looks like?
I hope that just isn’t an issue to be a woman in science, it just is a normal occurrence.
As a female faculty member in the RUCOOL, I very much look forward to being a leader in technological developments for application to ocean and climate change research, overcoming stereotypes focused on women in STEM fields, and serving as a role model for young females around the globe. I have had the privilege to be mentored by supportive women (and men) in oceanography, and I was humbled to be included in Oceanography’s 2014 edition honoring Women in Oceanography. Now I am paying it forward by mentoring several female post-docs, graduate and undergraduate students in interdisciplinary oceanographic STEM research. I look forward to continue to train the next generation of scientists to continue to push the envelope in ocean exploration to address priority questions related to climate change and marine organism response.
Credits:
Title: Pacific Krill on fingertip. Credit: NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries. Image 1: Grace Saba, as a young girl on her family's farm in Kansas. Credit: Grace Saba. Image 2: Grace Saba in the on board a research vessel in the Southern Ocean, Antarctica Credit: Grace Saba. Image 3: Grace Sabe with an observing glider preparing for deployment in the Northeast US waters Credit: Rutgers University Image 4: Grace Saba, with Rutgers student and technicians. Image credit: Rutgers University