I have been fascinated by invisible living things since I investigated bacteria in a local Connecticut stream for an elementary school science project. My father says that I have been doing the same research ever since, and he is almost correct. I am fascinated by the lifestyles of microbes that live in freshwater, and I study them using tools of biochemistry, molecular biology, and microbiology. Over the years I have studied microbes from hot springs in New Zealand, contaminated Maine beaches, and slimy rocks in rivers. I enjoy helping students explore science at this intersection of environment, chemistry, and biology.