A.J. Van Belle

A.J. Van Belle is a scientist with research specialties in microbial ecology, molecular evolution, and ecological statistics. With a PhD in biology and graduate certificates in terrestrial biogeochemistry and college-level writing instruction from Boston University, and an MS in cell and molecular biology and an MA in anthropology from California State University, they’ve taught courses in writing and natural science at Boston University and Babson College. Under their maiden name, Vivelo, they’ve published microbial ecology research in FEMS Microbiology Ecology, Fungal Ecology, and New Phytologist. Their dissertation identifies a cross-ecosystem phylogenetic signal to fungal decomposer succession as well as biological features that correlate with this lineage-specific pattern.

A.J.’s YA popular science book on the real science of fictional dystopian scenarios, A Dozen Dystopias and How to Dodge Them: The Real Dangers Behind Your Favorite Fiction, and their adult popular science book on how fungi inspire the sustainable technology of the future, From Mushrooms to the Moon, are coming soon from Bloomsbury Academic. Their middle grade nonfiction book on the urban heat island effect, Hot Cities, is coming in September 2027 from Orca Publishing.

As a fiction author, A.J. is a Rhysling finalist, British Science Fiction Association Award finalist, and Best of the Net nominee, and their work is included in the latest volume of Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction. Their scientific interests are woven into their fiction, which is driven by themes of climate change, systems science, evolution, and the possibilities and limits of technology. They are a literary agent at the Booker-Albert Agency.