Josephine Rapp, PhD

What’s the work that you do?

I study the microbial life and interactions in frozen environments. I am particularly interested in the role of the sea-ice environment for microbial evolution. Currently, my work is focused on multi-year ice in the so-called Last Ice Area of the Arctic.

What keeps you going?

My love for sea ice was instant – it’s so beautiful, wild and ever-changing. There are so many secrets still to be unraveled about the millions of viruses and microbes that live inside the ice, but their living space is disappearing at an unprecedented rate. Being able to go to the field, see and experience the ice is something I‘ll be forever grateful for.

What’s your message to the world?

We cannot see microbial cells and viruses with the naked eye, but despite their small size they are integral members of the ecosystem with fundamental roles for biogeochemistry and environmental health. Understanding their functions and responses to change is critical in understanding and predicting the consequences of the disappearing cryosphere.