Van Dover, Cindy (1954–)
Van Dover, Cindy (1954–)
American marine biologist. Born Cindy Lee Van Dover, May 16, 1954, in Red Bank, NJ; dau. of James K. and Virginia Van Dover; Rutgers University, BS in environmental science, 1977; University of California, Los Angeles, MA in ecology, 1985.
Contributor of research about life and ecosystem on ocean's floor, was 1st scientist and 1st woman to receive license as a navy certified submersible pilot-commander; piloted 48 dives in the submersible Alvin (1990–92); led scientific team beneath Indian Ocean (2001); had lifelong affiliation with Woods Hole; worked as visiting scholar at Duke University in NC (1994–95), as associate professor at University of Alaska at Fairbanks (1995–98), as West Coast National Undersea Center science director, and as assistant professor at College of William and Mary in Virginia (since 1998); writings include Deep-Ocean Journeys: Discovering Life at the Bottom of the Sea (1997) and The Ecology of Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents (2000).