Department
School of Oceanography
Organization
University of Washington
Email
jdeming@u.washington.edu
Phone
206-543-0845
Address
School of Oceanography
Seattle , Washington 98195United StatesBioJody W. Deming earned a B.A. in Biological Sciences cum laude from Smith College (1974) and Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Maryland (1981). She received NSF and NOAA postdoctoral fellowships for deep-sea research (1981–1983) at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Johns Hopkins University. She continued research at the JHU Chesapeake Bay Institute until moving to the University of Washington in 1988, where she is Professor in the School of Oceanography. At UW, she has directed the Marine Bioremediation Program (1992–1999), launched the Center for Environmental Genomics, helped establish the nation’s first graduate training program in Astrobiology (1998–present), and directed the Future of Ice Initiative (2014–2015). She and her students currently explore microbial life in the Arctic Ocean and its sea-ice cover. She chaired the International Arctic Polynya Program (2000–2012) and served on the US Polar Research Board during the International Polar Year (2007–2009) and as chief scientist on international icebreaking expeditions. Among her awards are the US Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal (1993), Honorary Doctorate in Science and Engineering, Université Laval in Quebec (2006), Walters Endowed Professorship (2009–present), and Hasselblad Guest Professor, University of Göteburg, Sweden (2015). She is Editor-in-Chief of the Ocean Science domain of Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene, a member of the American Academy of Microbiology (elected 1999) and of the US National Academy of Sciences (elected 2003).

Interests

Sea Ice, Permafrost, Life Science

Science Specialties

Sea ice, Arctic waters and sediments, Alaskan cryopegs

Current Research

Microbial adaptations for life at subzero temperature and high salinity in Arctic sea ice and cryopeg brines. Implications for the search for microbial life on other icy planets and moons.