Students often shy away from the hard sciences, fearing life spent as a cloistered lab rat. Professor Jill Mikucki shattered that stereotype, venturing onto the ice sheets of Antarctica to study microbiology.
She says she loves her work, but it can get a bit chilly.
“The extreme weather presents a variety of safety concerns and so we must take special training on how to survive in the cold,” Mikucki wrote to the Daily Beacon. “There is also the challenge of being so far away from family and friends for long periods of time. A typical field season is about three months.”
Practicing microbiology is no small feat stateside, and Antarctica adds its own complications.
“There is the challenge of fieldwork — while we may be doing something fairly straightforward like collecting a water sample, when you add the half a mile of glacier ice that covers your sample … well, that’s a whole different game,” Mikucki said.
Mikucki works cooperatively with other specialists in her field to better understand the microorganisms of frigid climates.
“I study sub-glacial ecosystems,” she said. “I am interested in how microorganisms survive and thrive in icy environments … It also allows me to place my work in a broader framework; there are many scientist studying glacial systems from various perspectives — for example there are glaciologists, chemists, climatologists, etc. (Collaborating) makes you think more broadly about your problem, it can lead to new insights.”
Michelle Chua, a graduate student in microbiology, said that when Mikucki talks about the research, her eyes light up.
“Not only is she dedicated to her work, but she is also very passionate about it,” Chua said. “Despite her busy schedule, she makes time for me and the other graduate student in the lab … she stops whatever she’s doing to help. In addition, she’s extremely knowledgeable and easy-going, and she challenges us to find answers on our own, which helps me learn more than if she had just given me the answer.”
Mikucki and Chua are looking at sub-glacial microbiological diversity, the microscopic organisms thriving under Antarctic ice layers. This hostile environment could hold clues to the survival of other organisms in our universe. Researchers learn more by examining the outflow, or the discharge coming from under the glacier.
“The outflow is indicative of what the environment is like beneath the glacier … there’s no oxygen or light, and obviously, temperatures are low,” Chua said. “This extreme environment presents the possibility of microbial life on other planets.”
Mikucki returned to UT at the end of February and plans to head out again next November.
“I believe there is a sense of urgency in understanding polar environments,” she said. “I enjoy the hard work and long hours and I feel fortunate to get to work with so many talented, motivated people who also believe studying Antarctica is important.”
