Dr. Edie Widder in the Johnson-Sea-Link submersible. Image courtesy of Tom Smoyer/HBOI
Senior Scientist
Dr. Edith A. Widder
Senior Scientist
2006 MacArthur Fellow
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution
Live Web Chat: Event Archive
January 26, 2005
10:00 - 11:00 am Pacific
1 - 2:00 pm Eastern
This profile has the following content:
1. Video Profiles
2. Biography
3. Career Timeline
4. Related Ocean Explorer Content
5. Print and Web Resources
Video Profiles 
Watch and listen to the video an/or read the transcript.
Mission Goals (Quicktime, 3.2 Mb)Dr.Widder discusses the use of the Eye-in-the-Sea camera on the Operation Deep Scope cruise and how this cruise was different from others she has been on.
Submersibles (QuickTime, 5.9 Mb)What is the difference between a submarine and a submersible? You will also learn many details of the Eye-in-the-Sea camera and what the CLAM is all about.
Launch and Recover (QuickTime, 4.0 Mb)Find out what it takes to get Eye-in-the-Sea ready to attach to the submersible and the impressive launch and recovery operation of the Johnson Sea Link.
What did we catch? (QuickTime, 1.5 Mb)Everyone is excited to see what is brought up from the depths. This includes critters and images collected by the Eye-in-the-Sea.
Advice for the Future (QuickTime, 1.8 Mb)"...learn something new every day... success in life depends on how well you handle plan B, anyone can handle plan A..."
Biography
What is your actual title?
Edith Widder, Senior Scientist, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution
Where do you work?
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution
What sparked your initial interest in the marine world?
When I was 11 years old I got to visit Fiji with my parents and I was fascinated by all the amazing creatures I saw on the reef - things like giant clams and blue starfish and lionfish.
Who influenced you or encouraged you the most?
My parents loved learning and they passed that love on to me.
Do you travel often?
Yes, for scientific meetings and for research expeditions.
Tell us more about your research and the types of things you do.
My interest is in bioluminescence -- how and why there are so many creatures in the ocean that make light. To answer my questions I have had to develop special instruments that can measure and record the light.
What is the most fascinating thing you have ever seen or done?
The first deep dive I made was in the single-person submersible Wasp. When I turned out the lights and saw all the bioluminescence that seemed to be everywhere I looked I was hooked. The experience changed the course of my career.
What are the personal rewards of your work?
I love learning new things and I love exploring. Those would be reward enough, but the icing on the cake is the amazing light show I see every time I make a dive in a submersible and turn out the lights. It still thrills me.
How does your work benefit the public?
In order to be good stewards of the ocean we have to know how many animals there are, how they are distributed and how they behave. A lot of my research revolves around answering these questions with innovative technological developments.
What else could someone with your background do?
I love research but I also enjoy teaching and writing and have even written a couple of children’s books about bioluminescence.
What are the educational requirements for your job?
I have a PhD in neurobiology, which probably isn’t what you’d expect based on the kind of work I do. I intended to study the neurobiology of marine organisms but then I got an opportunity to make a dive in a submersible and I became completely fascinated by bioluminescence. I had to learn a lot of new material to change the direction of my research but that’s the wonderful thing about being a research scientist – you are always learning new things.
What is the salary range?
After completing a PhD, postdocs make $20-25,000. With each rung up the ladder from assistant scientist to associate scientist to senior scientist salary increases until a senior scientist in my position is making between $90,000 - $150,000.
How many hours do you work?
The number of hours I work varies between 8 hours/day to as much as 20 hours/day. I try to work only as long as I'm being efficient, but sometimes on research cruises there is no choice.
Looking back, was there anything you would have done differently in your education or career journey?
I would have taken more advanced mathematics.
What obstacles did you encounter along the way?
Funding is always a challenge but with persistence I have generally been able to find support for the projects that I think are important.
What are your hobbies?
I either roller blade or bicycle everyday and I also enjoy kayaking and cooking.
Career Timeline
Interests in Elementary School:
Art, Archeology and Marine biology
Beginning of Interest in Marine Sciences:
Age 11
First Marine Science Class:
Tropical marine biology when I was a junior in college
Degrees:
B.S. - Biology
M.S. - Biochemistry
PhD - Neurobiology
First Career-related Job:
Laboratory Technician at Harvard Medical School for 2 years after completing BS.
Employment Journey/Career Transitions:
PhD in neurobiology studying the electrophysiology of a bioluminescent dinoflagellate. Had a postdoc lined up in membrane biophysics working in a top lab in Madison Wisconsin. But then was offered the opportunity to dive the single-person submersible Wasp and it completely changed the course of my career. There was no such thing as a career path in bioluminescence but it didn't matter -- I was hooked.
Other Accomplishments:
Co-holder of the patent on the instrument that the U.S. Navy considers the standard for measuring bioluminescence in the world's oceans. Published over 60 peer reviewed scientific papers and have been chief scientist on 30 research expeditions.
Related Ocean Explorer Content
This section points to other areas on this Web offering that relate to this career.
Islands in the Stream 2002: Exploring Underwater Oases - Leg 3 Mission Summary (PDF, 2 MB)
Islands in the Stream 2002: Exploring Underwater Oases - August 23 Log
Islands in the Stream 2002: August 26 Log - Interview with Erika Heine, Doctorate Student, Johns Hopkins University and Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, studying under Dr. Edie Widder
Operation Deep Scope 2004: Mission Plan
Operation Deep Scope 2004: Eye-in-the-Sea
Operation Deep Scope 2004: Deep Light
Operation Deep Scope 2004: August 7 Log
Operation Deep Scope 2004: August 8 Log
Operation Deep Scope 2004: August 17 Log
Operation Deep Scope 2005: Eye-in-the-Sea
Operation Deep Scope 2005: September 4 Log
Operation Deep Scope 2005: Widder Biography
Ocean Explorer YouTube Channel Video 
Print and Web Resources
Online and offline books, magazines and articles related to this career.Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution - More About Bioluminescence
The Bioluminescence Department at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution is studying how bioluminescence helps animals to survive in the ocean and how measurements of bioluminescence can be used to address one of the greatest challenges in marine ecology, which is: How do we study the associations between organisms in a three dimensional fluid environment which is constantly changing?
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution - Marine Science - Bioluminescence
Bioscience Explained - Marine Bioluminescence
A featured article titled 'Why do so many animals in the open ocean emit light'.
San Diego Workshop - Spring 2000
Provides access to workshop materials related to the 'Future Directions in Bioluminescence Research'.
Glow: Living Lights
Learn about this traveling exhibit which reveals the remarkable behavior and ecology of bioluminescence.
The Science Channel: Meet the Scientists
Photonics.com featured article September 24, 2003
Eye of the Sea Lends Fish-eye View of Seafloor
MarineCareers.net
This site, sponsored by NOAA's National Sea Grant College Program, introduces a wide range of marine career fields and people working in those fields. Professionals describe what they like and dislike about their careers, what they see for the future in their fields, and much more. The site also provides salary and other pertinent career information.
