Vanessa Zepeda: Astrobiologist at QUT

The Buzz About STEM

Gemma Chilton in conversation with Vanessa Zepeda, a 37-year- old astrobiologist who is currently finishing up her PhD at QUT in Brisbane, Queensland.
Vanessa is the daughter of Mexican and Cuban immigrants, who grew up in land-locked Arizona, USA. So it’s somewhat surprising to hear that from a young age she dreamed of becoming a marine biologist. Her story is a great example of how the seeds of inspiration can come from the most surprising of places! Vanessa was the first in her family to go to university, and talks about how vital her dad’s support and encouragement was to her eventual success in academia.

Hear how Vanessa’s study path took her to beautiful Hawaii where she spent her 20s gaining her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in marine biology and microbiology, and how this evolved into a fascinating career in astrobiology – literally looking for life on Mars.

Vanessa also has some amazing words of wisdom for teens setting out on their own career paths, and for the parents of teens hoping to support their children on their journey to a successful and rewarding future.

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