Research Focus Areas
We study how environmental stressors drive microbial responses that influence global carbon and nutrient cycles. Major themes include:
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Ocean Warming and Microbial Evolution
Investigating how climate-driven warming alters the growth, thermal adaptation, and genetic structure of phytoplankton, including Synechococcus and Pseudo-nitzschia. -
Trace Metal Biogeochemistry
Exploring how metals like iron, nickel, and cobalt affect microbial metabolism, competition, and carbon export, especially in iron-limited regions. -
Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE)
Testing how mineral-based carbon removal strategies like olivine dissolution influence phytoplankton, trace metal dynamics, and biological feedbacks. -
Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and Multi-Stressors
Studying how warming, UV radiation, nutrient shifts, and acidification affect the toxicity, growth, and molecular regulation of bloom-forming species. -
Microbial Trait Plasticity and Carbon Cycling
Linking transcriptomic, proteomic, and physiological traits to larger-scale biogeochemical models and predictions of carbon sequestration potential.
Methods & Approaches
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Controlled laboratory and mesocosm experiments
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Nutrient and trace metal manipulation
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Proteomics, transcriptomics, and isotope analysis
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Multi-stressor exposure assays
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Fieldwork across coastal and oligotrophic ocean systems
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Collaborations with climate modelers and marine chemists
Scope & Vision
Our work spans from genes to global systems. By uncovering how marine microbes respond to environmental change, we aim to:
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Improve predictions of ocean productivity and ecosystem resilience
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Inform carbon dioxide removal approaches
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Clarify the role of microbes in climate feedback loops
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Provide mechanistic insight into microbial evolution in real time
We train students and collaborators to bridge disciplinary gaps between molecular biology, ecology, and Earth system science .
