Postdoctoral Scholar, California Institute of Technology
Summary of D.Phil/MSc research
My D.Phil examined the role of marine chemistry on the growth of microorganisms responsible for regulating climate. Specifically, I asked what the effect of low concentrations of trace metals (like iron and copper) is on the growth, distribution and competition between marine microorganisms responsible for cycling the element nitrogen and producing the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide. To answer this question, I used approaches across earth sciences, biochemistry and comparative genomics, finding that marine microorganisms that cycle nitrogen in the oceans have the potential to be growth-limited in large swaths of the oceans limited by iron and copper -- holding implications for the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle.
Current Research/employment
Was your D.Phil relevant to what you are doing now?
