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Hi! My name is Lisa Moore. I am an assistant professor in the department of biology at the University of Southern Maine in Portland, ME. I teach basic biology, microbiology, and their associated lab classes to undergraduates. The students at USM have a wide variety of backgrounds and also a wide range of abilities, so teaching a basic science class that covers so much material is quite a challenge - but it is also rewarding. I love to see a student's eyes light up when they finally understand a concept that they are struggling with. Another big aspect of my job at USM is doing research. My research focuses on understanding how microscopic phytoplankton (the photosynthetic organisms at the base of the marine food chain) respond to different environmental conditions, such as changes in light and nutrients. The phytoplankton that I study are called marine cyanobacteria - they are the most abundance photosynthetic organisms in the oceans, and thus are very important to the marine food web. I love the research and teaching that I do, but it took me a long time to come to this point. When I went to college, I didn't know what I wanted to do. I finally realized that I liked science and focused on neuroscience. But after doing research for several years in a neuroscience lab working with mice, rats and raccoons, I decided that working with animals wasn't for me. I had a strong interest in environmental issues, so I decided to switch fields of study. This led me to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where I had to take engineering classes and apply the calculus in ways that I never imagined! But, I kept at it, finished with a Ph.D., and am now happily passing on my scientific knowledge and training to others at USM.
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