Assistant Professor
Skidaway Institute of Oceanography
10 Ocean Science Circle
Savannah, Ga. 31411
Email: cohen@uga.edu
Education:
B.S. Pennsylvania State University, Biology 2010
Ph.D. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Marine Sciences 2017
Research Interests:
My research addresses how unicellular eukaryotes (also known as protists) respond to changes in their chemical environment on molecular, physiological and ecological scales, and the resulting implications for biogeochemical nutrient cycling in the ocean. Photosynthetic protists, in particular, play a key role in ocean biogeochemistry by converting atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic carbon, transferring energy to higher trophic levels and exporting organics to the deep ocean. Their growth is dependent on macronutrient (e.g., nitrate, phosphate) and micronutrient availability (e.g., trace metals and vitamins), the concentrations of which may vary due to their physical, biological and geochemical sources and sinks.
A major question in the field of biological oceanography is how naturally-occurring, anthropogenic and climate-induced shifts in micronutrients alter microbial ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles. I examine this over multiple spatial scales ranging from the molecular physiology of individual populations to community metabolism across expanses of the ocean. A combination of interdisciplinary approaches are used, including laboratory culture experiments, oceanographic field surveys, and transcriptomic and proteomic (’omic) analyses, enabling an understanding of the metabolic strategies used by protists when acclimating to variations in their geochemical environment.
Prospective Students:
The lab is looking for a graduate student interested in microbial ecology, phytoplankton physiology, environmental bioinformatics and/or trace metal biogeochemistry to join in fall 2021! There are laboratory, research cruise and computational-based opportunities available. Potential projects include evaluating the role of trace metals in shaping microbial communities, characterizing coastal phytoplankton physiology in response to micronutrient availability and investigating shifts in protistan metabolism across geochemical gradients through ’omic techniques. Please email if you would like more information about the lab (ncohen@whoi.edu) and include a brief summary of interests!