Rika Anderson, Assistant Professor of Biology, is the recipient of a National Science Foundation (NSF) award for her project “CAREER: Temporal dynamics of microbial and viral function and adaptation in hydrothermal vents.” Her work will expand knowledge of how microbes and viruses from hydrothermal vents adapt and evolve over time, in hopes of providing insights into the early evolution of life on Earth and into the ways microorganisms respond to anthropogenic disturbances like deep-sea mining and climate change over time. Additionally, Prof. Anderson’s research engages undergraduate partners at all stages of the research process. CAREER grants are NSF’s most prestigious award to early-career faculty, supporting those with the “potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization.”