Research
Microbial Oceanography is an interdisciplinary blend of marine microbiology and ocean biogeochemistry. Specifically, our research has focused on the role marine microbes play in the cycling of elements through oceanic dissolved organic matter (DOM) and the biogeochemical significance of DOM in the marine C cycle. Despite significant progress the oceanographic community still lacks a mechanistic understanding of the microbial processes that shape DOM dynamics. My groups’ research goals are to continue to break apart the “black boxes” of substrates and organisms. We apply traditional as well as cutting edge molecular techniques to further characterize both DOM composition as well as the microbial community that grown and transform these substrates. The ultimate goal of this research is to establish linkages between microbial community composition and biogeochemical processes.