Ocampo-Friedmann, Roseli (1937–)
Ocampo-Friedmann, Roseli (1937–)
American botanist. Name variations: Roseli Ocampo-Friedmann; Roseli Ocampo; Roseli Friedmann. Born Roseli Ocampo, Nov 23, 1937, in Manila, Philippines; University of the Philippines, BS in botany, 1958; Hebrew University in Jerusalem, MA, 1966; Florida State University in Tallahassee, PhD, 1973; m. Imre Friedmann (research partner), 1974.
Studied and grew microscopic algae and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae discovered by future husband) at Hebrew University in Jerusalem; after brief stay at National Institute of Science and Technology in Manila, returned with husband to work at Florida State University in Tallahassee (1968); traveled world with him in search of algae and microorganisms; successfully grew samples of microorganisms found inside rocks in Antarctica (mid-1970s); studied bacteria from Siberia's permanently frozen ground; became full professor of biology and microbiology at Florida A&M University (1987), and researcher with husband at Florida State; attracted media interest since scientists think microorganisms inside frozen rocks might be similar to microorganisms that could have lived on Mars (1996); researched extremeophiles as a Mars Specialist in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence's (SETI) Carl Sagan Center for the Study of Life in the Universe; received National Science Foundation US Congressional Antarctic Service Medal (1981).