<Ul> <Li> Sonequa Martin - Green as Michael Burnham : A Science Specialist on USS Discovery . Burnham was First Officer of the USS Shenzhou , where she was referred to as `` Number One '' to honor the character of the same name portrayed by Majel Barrett in the original Star Trek pilot `` The Cage '' . Burnham is a human who was raised following Vulcan culture and traditions by Sarek , and was not made a starship captain , like the protagonists of previous Star Trek series , `` to see a character from a different perspective on the starship -- one who has different dynamic relationships with a captain , with subordinates , it gave us richer context '' . Fuller deliberately gave the character a traditionally male name , which he had done with the female leads of his previous series . </Li> <Li> Doug Jones as Saru : First Officer of the USS Discovery , Saru was previously Science Officer of the USS Shenzhou . Saru is the first Kelpien to enter Starfleet . Kelpiens , a new species created for Discovery , were hunted as prey on their home planet and thus evolved the ability to sense the coming of death , giving them a reputation for cowardice . Jones based Saru 's walk on that of a supermodel , out of necessity thanks to the boots he had to wear to portray the character 's hooved feet , forcing Jones to walk on the balls of his feet . The producers compared Saru to the characters Spock and Data from previous series . </Li> <Li> Shazad Latif as Ash Tyler : Chief of Security of the USS Discovery , Lieutenant Tyler was previously held as a prisoner of war by the Klingons . Latif was originally cast in the role of Kol . Latif noted that Tyler 's PTSD would be explored in the show as he attempts to return to his Starfleet life , calling Tyler `` a very complex and painful and deep character . '' The character explores these issues with different characters , including Lorca due to their shared military background , and Burnham with whom `` there 's a chemistry , a relationship '' . </Li> <Li> Anthony Rapp as Paul Stamets : A science officer specializing in astromycology ( the study of fungi in space ) . The character is inspired by a real - life mycologist of the same name . He is the first openly gay character in a Star Trek series , and the showrunners `` wanted to roll out that character 's sexuality the way people would roll out their sexuality in life . '' Rapp noted that Hikaru Sulu was portrayed as gay in the film Star Trek Beyond , calling that `` a nice nod . But in this case , we actually get to see me with my partner in conversation , in our living quarters , you get to see our relationship over time , treated as any other relationship would be treated '' . </Li> <Li> Mary Wiseman as Sylvia Tilly : A cadet in her final year at Starfleet Academy , assigned to the Discovery . She works under Stamets aboard the Discovery , where she becomes roommates with Burnham . The character was included to represent people `` at the very bottom of this ladder '' of the Starfleet hierarchy . She is `` the most optimistic ... has the biggest heart '' , and showrunner Aaron Harberts described her as `` sort of the soul of our show . '' </Li> <Li> Jason Isaacs as Gabriel Lorca : Captain of the Discovery , a `` brilliant military tactician '' . Isaacs described the character as `` probably more f-d up than any of '' the previously seen Star Trek captains . He plays the character with a slight southern U.S. accent , and had initially wanted to ad - lib a catchphrase for the character feeling that all Star Trek captains should have one , coming up with `` git'r done '' which the writers turned down due to it being widely used and trademarked by Larry the Cable Guy . </Li> </Ul>
<Ul> <Li> Sonequa Martin - Green as Michael Burnham : A Science Specialist on USS Discovery . Burnham was First Officer of the USS Shenzhou , where she was referred to as `` Number One '' to honor the character of the same name portrayed by Majel Barrett in the original Star Trek pilot `` The Cage '' . Burnham is a human who was raised following Vulcan culture and traditions by Sarek , and was not made a starship captain , like the protagonists of previous Star Trek series , `` to see a character from a different perspective on the starship -- one who has different dynamic relationships with a captain , with subordinates , it gave us richer context '' . Fuller deliberately gave the character a traditionally male name , which he had done with the female leads of his previous series . </Li> <Li> Doug Jones as Saru : First Officer of the USS Discovery , Saru was previously Science Officer of the USS Shenzhou . Saru is the first Kelpien to enter Starfleet . Kelpiens , a new species created for Discovery , were hunted as prey on their home planet and thus evolved the ability to sense the coming of death , giving them a reputation for cowardice . Jones based Saru 's walk on that of a supermodel , out of necessity thanks to the boots he had to wear to portray the character 's hooved feet , forcing Jones to walk on the balls of his feet . The producers compared Saru to the characters Spock and Data from previous series . </Li> <Li> Shazad Latif as Ash Tyler : Chief of Security of the USS Discovery , Lieutenant Tyler was previously held as a prisoner of war by the Klingons . Latif was originally cast in the role of Kol . Latif noted that Tyler 's PTSD would be explored in the show as he attempts to return to his Starfleet life , calling Tyler `` a very complex and painful and deep character . '' The character explores these issues with different characters , including Lorca due to their shared military background , and Burnham with whom `` there 's a chemistry , a relationship '' . </Li> <Li> Anthony Rapp as Paul Stamets : A science officer specializing in astromycology ( the study of fungi in space ) . The character is inspired by a real - life mycologist of the same name . He is the first openly gay character in a Star Trek series , and the showrunners `` wanted to roll out that character 's sexuality the way people would roll out their sexuality in life . '' Rapp noted that Hikaru Sulu was portrayed as gay in the film Star Trek Beyond , calling that `` a nice nod . But in this case , we actually get to see me with my partner in conversation , in our living quarters , you get to see our relationship over time , treated as any other relationship would be treated '' . </Li> <Li> Mary Wiseman as Sylvia Tilly : A cadet in her final year at Starfleet Academy , assigned to the Discovery . She works under Stamets aboard the Discovery , where she becomes roommates with Burnham . The character was included to represent people `` at the very bottom of this ladder '' of the Starfleet hierarchy . She is `` the most optimistic ... has the biggest heart '' , and showrunner Aaron Harberts described her as `` sort of the soul of our show . '' </Li> <Li> Jason Isaacs as Gabriel Lorca : Captain of the Discovery , a `` brilliant military tactician '' . Isaacs described the character as `` probably more f-d up than any of '' the previously seen Star Trek captains . He plays the character with a slight southern U.S. accent , and had initially wanted to ad - lib a catchphrase for the character feeling that all Star Trek captains should have one , coming up with `` git'r done '' which the writers turned down due to it being widely used and trademarked by Larry the Cable Guy . </Li> </Ul>
who plays the science officer on star trek discovery
who plays the science officer on star trek discovery
Anthony Rapp
Anthony Rapp