Dana is a junior at Northwestern University, majoring in Earth and Planetary Science with a specific interest in geomicrobiology. After completing her studies at Northwestern University, she will continue studying marine geomicrobiology while working towards earning her Ph.D. After completing her dive training, she hopes to use her new skills to sample microbes in coastal areas of eastern Mexico. Ultimately, she plans on furthering her dive education in order to strengthen her research skills and increase her ability to study the multitude of unique ocean environments. She is interested in the intersection of microbes, climate change, and sequestration of carbon by the ocean.