Claire Zwiers Cook, a doctoral student in the Department of Marine Sciences at the University of Georgia’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and based at the UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography (SkIO), has been named the inaugural recipient of the Lawrence and Janet Pomeroy Memorial Graduate Fund. She will use the award to support travel to the 2026 Ocean Sciences Meeting in Glasgow, Scotland.
“Attending the Ocean Sciences Meeting provides a valuable opportunity to share my research findings, connect with colleagues advancing Dr. Pomeroy’s legacy, and receive feedback from leaders in marine microbial ecology. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to represent the continued impact of Dr. Pomeroy’s work and contribute to this vibrant field,” said Cook, who conducts research in the lab of faculty member Natalie Cohen.
The Pomeroy Fund provides support to UGA graduate students to attend a conference, summer program, or to conduct research. It was named in honor of Lawrence Pomeroy, an influential ecologist who was the Alumni Foundation Professor Emeritus of Ecology at UGA.
“Dr. Pomeroy’s groundbreaking recognition of the role of bacteria in the cycling of organic matter transformed the way we view energy flow in the ocean,” said Cook. “His conceptualization of the microbial loop opened new avenues in microbial ecology, which I am now honored to explore further in my own research.”
The Pomeroy Fund is awarded annually to graduate students at UGA studying marine biological sciences. It is intended to support students attending conferences by covering costs such as registration fees, travel and lodging. The award may also be used for research-related expenses, including travel to remote study sites, accommodations during fieldwork, and necessary equipment or supplies.
“I am pleased that Claire is our inaugural awardee,” said SkIO Director Clark Alexander. “She set the context for her research and goals squarely on the foundation of Dr. Pomeroy’s work. I cannot think of a better acknowledgement of his influence on future generations of scientists.”
“All the applications were excellent and worthy of the award,” added SkIO Associate Professor Cliff Buck, who is the Marine Sciences Department’s director of graduate studies. “Students are doing exciting work and proposed using funds to present at conferences or in other cases to support additional exploratory research in support of their interests. The committee especially valued Claire’s effective linking of her own research to the legacy of Dr. Pomeroy. He was a pioneer who advocated for the role of bacteria in marine ecology and nutrient cycling. Claire’s work on mixotrophs is a logical extension of that groundbreaking work and we are happy to support her travel to the upcoming Ocean Sciences meeting.”
About SkIO
The UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography (SkIO) is a multidisciplinary research and education institution located on Skidaway Island near Savannah, Georgia. The Institute was founded in 1967 with a mission to conduct research in all fields of oceanography. In 2013, SkIO was merged with the University of Georgia. The campus serves as a gateway to coastal and marine environments for programs throughout the University System. The Institute’s primary goals are to further the understanding of marine and environmental processes, conduct leading-edge research on coastal and marine systems, and train tomorrow’s scientists. For more information, visit www.skio.uga.edu.