Melissa Wills

Melissa Wills is a Lecturer in the Department of Science and Technology Studies at the University of California, Davis. Her research explores intersections between life sciences and science fiction, focusing on microbiology's conceptual dependencies on speculative germfree worlds. She contributes to interdisciplinary dialogues through projects like her upcoming book Ruptures: Life without Germs in the Microbiome Era.

Her scholarly work bridges science fiction narratives with contemporary scientific practices, analyzing topics such as citizen science in gaming contexts, biopolitical frameworks in video games, and the rhetorical dimensions of genetic research. Recent publications appear in Design Issues, Science Fiction Film and Television, and Games and Culture.

Wills' research demonstrates a persistent focus on speculative thought's role in shaping scientific paradigms, particularly in microbiology and biotechnology. Her work often employs critical theory to examine how imaginative constructs inform real-world scientific methodologies.