What questions are you trying to answer and why?

We are attempting to gain a more thorough understanding of the microbial community composition of hydrothermal vents and its interactions with the unique chemical environment. These organisms have developed methods to thrive under extreme conditions that were once thought to be lethal to biological systems. Understanding the biological and chemical interactions of these extreme environments may provide evidence for the evolution of early biological systems.

Why is this research important? What are the benefits?

This research will provide for a better understanding of the diversity of life present in the ocean and on the planet. It will expand our knowledge of the temperature and chemical limitations of life and the mechanisms developed by organisms to thrive under such conditions. The isolation of enzymes from vent organisms may prove useful in industrial processes. These systems have also been theorized to mimic the environmental conditions of early Earth and have implications into theories into the early evolution of life on this planet and the possibility of life on other planets.

What’s your educational background and what lured you into marine research?

I majored in marine science and biology at the University of Georgia. Through my undergraduate studies and past research experience, I developed a strong interest in marine microbes and their interactions with the environment. I am now a graduate student at the University of Delaware College of Marine Studies.