Samantha Joye, Ph.D., is an oceanographer, an educator and a vocal ocean and environmental advocate. She is a regents’ professor and holds the Athletic Association Distinguished Professorship of Arts and Sciences at the University of Georgia; she is a professor in the Department of Marine Sciences. She is an expert in microbiology and biogeochemistry and works in extreme deep ocean environments, as well in blue-water environments. Her work bridges the fields of analytical chemistry, geology and microbiology and many projects focus on extreme environments, including seafloor cold seeps and hydrothermal vents, Antarctic ice-covered lakes and pelagic hypoxic zones where she and her colleagues seek to understand how microbial processes shape biogeochemical cycling.

Joye received her B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Joye has published 250 peer-reviewed scientific works to date and is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography, the American Geophysical Union, the American Academy of Microbiology and The Explorers Club. Joye is deeply committed to science communication and public outreach and works to advance ocean literacy and environmental education. She served as a science advisor to the BBC during production of Blue Planet II: The Deep. She partnered with award-winning cartoonist Jim Toomey to produce the educational cartoon series, “Adventures of Zach and Molly.” She works frequently with artists to generate ocean-themed art that stimulates empathy for, and interest in, the ocean.