Dr. Amy Apprill, Raytown South High School, Class of 1996

Dr. Amy Apprill graduated from Raytown South High in 1996. She attended the University of San Diego, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Marine Science in 2001. She later earned a Master’s Degree and Ph.D. from the University of Hawaii in 2004 and 2009, respectively. Dr. Apprill served as a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow at the University of Hawaii, Manoa while pursuing her Ph.D.

In 2004, she was awarded the Watamull Scholarship for Academic Achievement from the University of Hawaii, and in 2006, she received the Hiatt Student Education Scholarship from the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology.

From 2009 to 2011, Dr. Apprill received the Post-Doctoral Scholar Fellowship from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), a world-class institution for ocean research and education. She was appointed as an assistant scientist at WHOI in 2011.

Dr. Apprill has published over thirty scientific articles and has given nearly three-dozen national and international presentations in her field. She has served as a reviewer for a dozen professional journals of marine biology and associated topics.

Dr. Apprill is an international expert in marine microbial ecology. Examples of her work include using drone technology to examine the upper respiratory microbiome of large whales and understanding the role of coral-associated bacteria in regulating the chemicals involved in coral bleaching. She has participated in 25 scientific expeditions worldwide, including leading a new scientific collaboration to study the coral reefs of Cuba. 

As a part of her work as a scientist, Dr. Apprill strives to educate students and the public on the topics of marine biology, coral reefs, and women in science. Dr. Apprill was featured in Science Magazine’s “XX Files: Extraordinary Science, Extraordinary Women” video series about famous female scientists. She is currently a tenure-track Oceanographer at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.