Donal Manahan was born in Ireland and attended Trinity College, University of Dublin, for his undergraduate studies in physiology and zoology. Dr. Manahan’s graduate work was at the University of Wales, Bangor, UK, under the supervision of Professor D.J. Crisp, FRS. He is currently a Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles. His area of research is environmental physiology and adaptation of marine animals, specifically marine invertebrates and their developmental biology in different environments. While on the faculty at USC he has held various administrative positions, including: Director of Environmental Sciences; Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences; and Dean of Research of the USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. He has been the Chief Scientist for over 15 scientific expeditions to Antarctica. He has served as Chair of the US National Academies' Polar Research Board and as Chair of the Committee of Scientific Users for the US Antarctic Program's major research laboratories (Crary Laboratory) located at McMurdo Station. Dr. Manahan currently directs an international training program in biological adaptations of Antarctic organisms at McMurdo Station, an advanced educational program aimed at introducing new Ph.D. students and postdoctoral researchers to polar research. In 2000, "Manahan Peak" in Antarctica was named in honor of his contributions to research and education on the continent. In 2001, he was appointed a lifetime "National Associate" of the US National Academies in recognition of his service to the Nation in matters of science.