Mackenzie Gerringer is an assistant professor of biology at Geneseo whose research interests are deep-sea biology, physiology and ecology of fish as well as adaptations to the hadal environment. She received her bachelor’s in biology and German studies from Whitman College in 2012 and her doctorate in marine biology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2017.
Gerringer is originally from California, and she came to Geneseo because it gave her the opportunity to work at a liberal arts college, a goal she wanted to fulfill. Gerringer realized that she loved teaching while in school, and she wanted to be able to teach somewhere that would allow students to grow and learn.
“I’ve wanted to be a marine biologist since I was very young. Along the way, I became passionate about the deep oceans, exploring incredible adaptations in weird and wonderful animals,” Gerringer said via an email interview. “I also developed a love for teaching and for mentoring student researchers. Since I was an undergrad, I’ve wanted to be a professor at a small liberal arts college, where students have the opportunity to find powerful connection between fields.”
Gerringer explained that what she feels most proud of in her career thus far is her research accomplishments and her involvement in studying what she knows are the least explored habitats on Earth. She feels a sense of accomplishment for her ability to describe the deepest known vertebrate in the ocean, as well as her mentorship role in supporting the next generation of scientists.
Even while the pandemic has affected Gerringer’s teaching, she also views this time as a learning experience.
“Although it’s been an incredibly difficult time, it’s also been an opportunity to examine the roots of what we think is important in courses. There are some certainly new approaches and assignments that I’ve developed due to the transition online that I’ll be keeping in in-person classes in the future,” Gerringer said. “In my lab, we’ve also moved all of our research this year to work that can be done remotely. The resilience and strength that I’ve seen time and again from students this year continues to be both impressive and humbling.”
Gerringer offers meaningful advice to students who are still struggling amidst the difficult circumstances of this year.
“Things are very hard right now. Be kind to yourselves and those around you, take time to take care of yourself, and be sure to build your support team,” Gerringer said. She added the importance of learning and encourages students to keep asking questions and learning.
Gerringer’s research can be viewed at this link.