Mélissandre (Mel) Malbec is a visiting exchange student under the Jane Eliza Procter Fellowship Program and joined the Levin Lab in Fall 2026.

She received a B.Sc. in Biology from Université Paris Cité in 2025 while studying at ENS Ulm (École Normale Supérieure, rue d'Ulm), where she is currently pursuing a master’s degree in biology with a focus on conservation ecology. She previously studied how coral species respond to environments with strong thermoclines. 

Her research interests center on understanding how ecosystems and species are affected by climate change, and whether and how they are adapting. She is also interested in learning more about public policy to help guide conservation initiatives and bridge the gap between environmental organizations and researchers.

At Princeton, Mel hopes to deepen her understanding of climate change ecology and public policy by engaging with experts in these fields while gaining international research experience. She also hopes this experience will help refine and strengthen her long-term career goals.

Outside of school and research, Mel enjoys traveling, discovering new cultures, and scuba diving. She is also an enthusiastic sports fan and enjoys watching almost any sport.