CofC Alum Finds Oceans of Possibilities in Marine Biology

by Becca Starkes ’16

^{Photos by Catie Cleveland}

Growing up on Lake Norman near Charlotte, North Carolina, Melissa Rocker ’07 has always been surrounded by water. Early on, she developed a love for the ocean and its creatures.

Today, as a postdoctoral scientist at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in East Boothbay, Maine, Rocker is investigating the effects of warming waters on shell disease in lobsters inhabiting the Gulf of Maine.

Her days involve a mix of fieldwork, lab experiments, data analysis and writing. She loves that her research can lead to tangible outcomes.

“It’s more than just the scientific paper that comes out of it,” says Rocker. “It’s the ability to provide this information to government entities that may be able to inform policy.”

Her marine biology career began with the decision to attend the College. One of her favorite classes was, surprisingly, Organic Chemistry. She still has the guided workbook from her class, where peer-to-peer learning was encouraged.

“I learned really easily from doing and doing with others,” says Rocker.

One person she worked with was biology professor Brian Scholtens. Their plan for their Summer Undergraduate Research with Faculty (SURF) grant project was to observe fish and insect assemblages in ephemeral ponds around Francis Marion National Forest, but a dry summer forced her to pivot. Instead, she compared mud puddles in the forest to drainage ditches along nearby roads, a lesson in flexibility that has served her well.

After graduation, Rocker didn’t plan on pursuing more research, but after a few years, she felt the itch to go back to school. Having always wanted to visit Australia, she applied to James Cook University in Queensland, home to one of the world’s top marine biology programs. Once accepted, Rocker spent almost 13 years Down Under, earning a doctorate and Australian citizenship.

The small-town atmosphere of East Boothbay reminds her of the Australian cities she lived in. Her home, surrounded by trees, is perfect for her beloved dogs Kaya and Aspen, who “like to go on walkabout and disappear into the woods.”

Recently, Bigelow enlisted the help of three undergraduate interns, and as Rocker watched them collaborate, she was reminded of her own early experiences at the College.

“You learn so much more from your peers,” she says.

As she reflects on her career thus far, there’s one thing Rocker believes every aspiring scientist should know: “To do science, you have to love the process. It can be a lot of hard work, but it can also be super rewarding.”