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Marine Microbial Processes

Microbial processes contribute to a broad array of biological and hydrological processes involving ecology, climate change, geochemical cycling, and energy production. The action of marine microbial communities are critical in maintaining homeostasis of global climate, and modeling of microbial metabolic fluxes is critical for future assessment of the impact of global warming. Study of microbial biodiversity warrants the development and deployment of novel molecular techniques including high throughput sequencing and genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic studies, and other state-of-the-art approaches to microbial molecular biology and ecology.

Research areas include: microbial genetics of marine microorganisms, physiology and molecular biology of extremophiles, molecular interactions of symbiotic bacteria and microbial diversity and its impact on human health.  

Faculty Research in Marine Microbial Processes

Bob Belas – Cell-cell communication and sensory transduction with emphasis on how regulation of gene expression helps microorganisms adapt to a changeable environment.

Keiko Seito – Aquatic microbial ecology and aquacultural microbiology.

Kevin Sowers – Biology of methanogenesis; regulation of gene transcription in Archaea; desiccation tolerance in the context of exobiology, applied technologies for bioremediation of PCBs.

Harold Schreier – Nitrogen metabolism in marine and terrestrial bacteria, regulation of microbial gene expression, adaptation of bacteria in extreme environments.