Rosie Alegado, PhD
Associate Professor, Oceanography and Sea Grant at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Honolulu, Hawai‘i
Field of study/specialty
Microbial oceanography, evolution of host-microbe interactions, microbial ecology, mangrove microbiome
What inspired you to pursue STEM?
I have always been fascinated about how biological systems work - how different organisms interact with one another and how the whole system requires all these different little parts to function. I wanted to understand each part and also uncover the relationships and how individual organisms interacted and influenced one another.
What is something you wish you knew when starting out in this field/ advice you would give NHPI students interested in pursuing this type of career?
It is so critical to FIND YOUR PEOPLE. Your people do not need to be other NHPI, your people are others who know you, and understand you and who you can trust. People who will tell you when you are making a mistake and cheer you on and encourage and push you to try new things.
Microbial oceanography, evolution of host-microbe interactions, microbial ecology, mangrove microbiome
What inspired you to pursue STEM?
I have always been fascinated about how biological systems work - how different organisms interact with one another and how the whole system requires all these different little parts to function. I wanted to understand each part and also uncover the relationships and how individual organisms interacted and influenced one another.
What is something you wish you knew when starting out in this field/ advice you would give NHPI students interested in pursuing this type of career?
It is so critical to FIND YOUR PEOPLE. Your people do not need to be other NHPI, your people are others who know you, and understand you and who you can trust. People who will tell you when you are making a mistake and cheer you on and encourage and push you to try new things.