I’m a Professor of Biological Oceanography with a broad interest in mechanisms controlling diversity, function and resilience in marine biota. My lab studies these mechanisms through molecular, optical, physiological and biogeochemical approaches. We are interested in how environmental change controls the composition of planktonic populations and how climate-driven processes such as ocean acidification and warming impact the physiology of phytoplankton.
Members
Principal Investigator
Graduate Students
My primary research interests are in understanding how anthropogenic activities affect marine ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles. My dissertation investigates the response of biogeochemically-important phytoplankton functional groups (e.g., calcifiers, silicifiers) to ocean alkalinization – a proposed climate mitigation strategy that would increase the ocean’s capacity to remove and store atmospheric CO2, while simultaneously counteracting ocean acidification.
My background has been primarily molecular and cellular biology in neuro- and plant biology contexts, but given the state of the world and the urgency for research in non-anthropocentric work, I'm now interested in applying this knowledge towards an environmental sciences-based project for my graduate studies. In the Iglesias-Rodriguez Lab, I'm keen on understanding the physiological responses of phytoplankton species to anthropogenic alterations of marine environments, from perspectives ranging the spectrum of molecular to ecological analyses.
My dissertation explores the impacts of ocean acidification and hypoxia on the health and biology of carbonate-producing marine organisms (calcifiers) in California marine systems. Through the lens of calcifiers/calcification, I examine how human actions (directly and indirectly) influence broader potential patterns of change, stability, vulnerability, and resilience in these systems over time and with a mind towards California’s future ocean conditions. My work implements an interdisciplinary, mixed-method approach combining laboratory experimentation with historical and contemporary field observations and datasets. In addition to Dr. Debora Iglesias-Rodriguez (Biological Oceanography), I am also advised on environmental history and historical ecology by Dr. Jennifer Martin.
Undergraduate Students
My research interests involve the anthropogenic effects of climate change and specifically how these effects impact the ocean's biogeochemical cycles. I am interested in the role that ocean alkalinity enhancement can play in mitigating the effects of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide and how this enhancement affects marine ecosystems and biodiversity.
My research interests are in understanding the effects that climate change, specifically ocean acidification, has on marine life. Within this field I am interested in the different CDR methods along with exploring how other natural hazards (such as fires) effect marine systems.
My research interests lie within oceanography and environmental science, particularly how anthropogenic climate stressors are influencing the marine environment via ocean acidification and the possible solutions to this problem. I am currently assisting on research investigating the ecological impacts on phytoplankton during ocean alkalinity enhancement.
My research interests lie in biogeochemical cycling with a specific emphasis in oceanography and climate change mitigation efforts. Within this field, I am interested in the integration of earth and biological sciences to study ocean alkalinity enhancement and the effect it may have on the ecosystems of Earth.
I am a fourth-year aquatic biology student who is currently assisting in studying potential mechanisms of atmospheric carbon dioxide removal through ocean alkalinity enhancement. My research interests lie in investigating the biogeochemical processes of aquatic trophic systems, the ecosystem services that these systems provide, and the application of these services toward mitigating modern environmental issues.
My research interests surround how climate-driven processes such as ocean acidification will impact biogeochemical cycles, and consequently the composition of marine life. I’m particularly interested in investigating how CDR strategies could mitigate anthropogenic stressors as well as impact marine ecosystems.
My research interests lie in the effects of ocean acidification on the marine ecosystem. I want to learn how anthropogenic stressors are changing the marine environment, and I am curious to test the feasibility and effectiveness of OAE concerning ocean acidification and marine life.
Research scientist / Lab Manager
I am a biological oceanographer, and mainly interested in the physiological and ecological properties of individual phytoplankton taxa in their shared environment and the anthropogenic impacts on the coastal ecosystem. My recent research projects are 1) examining how climate-driven natural hazard events such as post-fire debris flow can affect the coastal phytoplankton ecosystem using molecular analysis and 2) investigating how phytoplankton community responds to the ocean alkalinity enhancement. I am working in Dr. Iglesias-Rodriguez Lab as an Associate Specialist, organizing general lab environment, involving in several research projects and managing the BD Influx (flow cytometry) facility.
Alumni
Postdoctoral Researchers
Paul Matson
I am a marine scientist that uses oceanographic and ecological approaches to explore the effects of environmental drivers on marine organisms. Here in the Iglesias-Rodriguez lab, I am investigating how species diversity and morphotypic variation in coccolithophores may influence the biogeochemical cycling through inorganic carbon production.
Regina Temino-Boes
My primary research interest is to improve our understanding of how anthropogenic activities modify marine biogeochemistry, the consequences for marine ecosystems and the proposal of prevention and recovery measures. I am particularly interested in investigating how climate change modifies marine chemistry and the impact of ocean acidification on marine biogeochemical cycles and microorganisms.
Graduate Students
Dylan Catlett
My research interests are in characterizing marine microbial community structure and diversity with an emphasis on the eukaryotes for the time being. My primary focus is linking optical, chemotaxonomic, and molecular approaches for this purpose, with the hope of developing novel methods for the remote sensing of microbial community structure.
Tanika Ladd
I am broadly interested in how anthropogenic activities influence marine systems and, in particular, phytoplankton communities. As a PhD student in the Iglesias-Rodriguez lab, my work includes projects investigating the impacts of oil exposure on phytoplankton physiology, how ash deposition in the marine environment alters phytoplankton physiology and community composition, and exploring coccolithophore blooms in the Eastern Bering Sea. I use a diversity of tools such as flow cytometry, microscopy, and omics to gain a better understanding of phytoplankton in both the field and laboratory experiments.
Undergraduate Students
Jessica Bullington
My research interests lie in the biogeochemical and ecological importance of marine phytoplankton. Using probable climate change stressors, I am exploring the physiological effects of a changing environment.
Cristian Cabrera
I am currently working on how phytoplankton populations were affected by ash deposition from the Thomas fire which occurred in December 2017.
Hannah Keaton
My interests lie in marine ecology and physical oceanography, particularly in how climate change is affecting these processes and interactions. In terms of research, I am interested in how anthroprogenic stressors like increased carbon dioxide are changing ecosystem composition over the course of short and long term time scales, as well as looking for possible solutions to combat these changes.
Tim Lamour
I am currently interested in how anthropogenic stressors, particularly ocean acidification and global sea temperature rise, will affect phytoplankton in the future.
Evan McCormack
I am currently interested in how anthropogenic stressors affect ocean water chemistry, and how these factors play a role in the marine microbial community.
Reina Myers
I am currently working with coccolithophores and studying their physiological adaptations to changes in gaseous concentrations in water.
Jasmine Prat
My research interests include marine biogeochemical cycles, marine ecosystems, and interactions between the two. In particular I am interested in how these systems will be impacted by environmental changes. I am currently working with coccolithophores on a project investigating connections between nutrient content and calcification.
Avery Pullman
My research interests are based on how anthropogenic stressors are affecting marine systems. Particularly, I am intrigued by ocean acidification and its impact on phytoplankton and other marine organisms.
Adriana Ramirez Negron
My research interests are in understanding how climate-induced changes, particularly ocean acidification and other changes in the chemical composition of marine ecosystems, affect the phytoplankton population and other marine organisms.
Technical Staff
Elisa Wallner Halewood
I am a microbial oceanographer, with a strong interest in the role microbes play in biogeochemical cycling of carbon in the marine environment. I am working with the Iglesias-Rodriguez Lab as an Assistant Specialist, helping assess inorganic carbon chemistry and assist in analysis of coccolithophore populations through flow cytometry.