Growing up in Taiwan, Chieh Peng thought she would have a career in the military as an officer or a doctor. However, females were not allowed to be military doctors, so she went to the United States to study Marine Biology at Texas A&M University. After receiving her B.S., she continued her marine studies by concentrating on chemical oceanography during her graduate work.

How did Chieh go from earning a Master’s degree to working as an Assistant Lab Officer aboard the JOIDES Resolution? One of the members of her thesis advisory committee was a staff scientist for the Ocean Drilling Program and suggested she apply for a job aboard the ship.

Chieh is currently one of the Assistant Lab Officers aboard the JOIDES Resolution. She is responsible for the technicians who carry out the analyses of the cores that are obtained from the ocean floor.

Living on a ship for two months can be awesome – especially when the weather is warm, the sun is shining and marine life is around. But it isn’t always easy. The work schedule on the ship is 12 hours on duty and 12 hours off. And, interactions with other shipmates can be intense, sometimes resulting in misunderstandings.

Still, Chieh loves working on the ship. One of her favorite shipboard memories is of the practical jokes that occur during an equatorial crossing. In the olden days, to prove you were a sailor, you needed to prove you were tough. To do this, a sailor might get a tattoo or a piercing, but these days, crossing the equator is marked with ceremony and fun.

Staff Name: Chieh Peng

Majors: Chemical Oceanography, Marine Biology, Marine Studies

Education: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

Courses: Organic Chemistry, Chemistry labs, Biology, Physical Geology, Physical Oceanography, Marine Geography

Experiences: Lab work, research cruises

IODP Experience: Over 45 Expeditions - ODP/IODP

Interests: Chemical compounds, laboratory testing, water sampling

Interests: Watching movies, working out, sunbathing

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