Judith S. Weis

Judith S. Weis, PhD, Professor Emerita of Biological Sciences at Rutgers University–Newark, is a distinguished marine biologist, educator, and environmental advocate. From an early fascination with marine life, she cultivated a lifelong commitment to understanding aquatic ecosystems, earning her bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and her MS and PhD from New York University. Her career at Rutgers University encompassed teaching, mentoring graduate students, conducting research, chairing university committees, and securing competitive grants, establishing her as a leader in estuarine ecology and marine pollution studies.

Dr. Weis’s research focuses on the effects of environmental stressors—including pollution, invasive species, and parasites—on the behavior, growth, and survival of estuarine animals. She has conducted extensive fieldwork in the New York–New Jersey Harbor region, as well as international studies in Indonesia and Madagascar, examining the ecological roles of salt marshes and mangroves and the impacts of plastics and microplastics. Two formative experiences shaped her scientific trajectory: working as a lab assistant at Woods Hole, Massachusetts, collaborating with a pioneering female scientist on fish behavior, and participating in a marine ecology course that combined intensive fieldwork with independent research projects. Her studies have revealed, for example, how pollution alters feeding habits and predation skills in fish, highlighting the cascading effects of environmental contamination on ecosystems.

In addition to her research, Dr. Weis has been a committed environmental activist, participating in the National Organization for Women (NOW) and the Sierra Club, where she contributed to the Marine Action Team and Toxics Team. She has authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications and several acclaimed books—including Salt Marshes: A Natural and Unnatural History, Do Fish Sleep?, and Walking Sideways: The Remarkable World of Crabs. A Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), former President of the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS), and active participant in numerous advisory boards, Dr. Weis continues her work as a retired scientist, studying marine pollution, mentoring students, and advancing science-based environmental stewardship worldwide.

• Cornell University - BA
• Cornell University - MS
• Cornell University - PhD

• AAAS
• AIBS
• ESA
• Estuarine Research Federation (ERF)