Latif was originally cast in the role of Kol.[14][13] Voq was initially credited as being portrayed by Javid Iqbal, an invented actor named for Latif's father, to hide the connection between the characters.[12] Latif described his character as "a very complex and painful and deep character",[13] and noted that "there's a chemistry, a relationship" with Burnham.[15] Latif's accent for Voq is Arabic-inspired, and he tried to maintain "a kind of pharyngealness" to Tyler's American accent.[12] Anthony Rapp as Paul Stamets: Chief engineer aboard the USS Discovery and science officer specializing in astromycology (the study of fungi in space) whose research led to development of an experimental organic propulsion system on the Discovery.[9][16][17] The character is inspired by a real-life mycologist of the same name.[18] 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".[19] Mary Wiseman as Sylvia Tilly: A cadet in her final year at Starfleet Academy, assigned to the Discovery.[20][21] She works under Stamets aboard the Discovery, where she becomes roommates with Burnham.[21] The character was included to represent people "at the very bottom of this ladder" of the Starfleet hierarchy.