C-MORE EDventure Previously Funded Projects

[ 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 • 2010 • 2009 • 2008 • 2007 ]

AWARDED APRIL 2015

Baker image Exploring the diatom-bacterial metaorganism

Author: Lydia Baker, UH

Diatoms are a vital part of the oceanic carbon cycle; they are responsible for nearly 40% of total marine primary productivity. There is now abundant evidence to suggest that bacteria are regularly associated with diatoms and that their association is a complex symbiotic interaction that can be parasitic, mutualistic, and commensal. A better understanding of these interactions could improve predictions regarding biomass production, degradation, and export. The objective of the proposed work is to gain a better understanding of the possible functions performed by suites of bacteria in close association with individual diatom host cells through metagenomic analysis. We will investigate nutrient pathways, antibiotic production, quorum sensing, and other genes that may be essential to the diatom-bacterial symbiotic interaction. From this information we will be able to evaluate bacteria-bacteria and bacteria-host interactions, as well as potential genetic contribution of bacteria to diatom-bacteria associations.

AWARDED APRIL 2014

Wilson image Training the next generation of greenhouse gas scientists

Author: Samuel T. Wilson, UH

Training the next generation of greenhouse gas scientists” represents a C-MORE led initiative to ensure the success of an international intercalibration exercise in dissolved greenhouse gases nitrous oxide and methane, led by Sam Wilson. The project objective is practical and straight-forward: production and distribution of gas standards which have a level of precision not currently available with any commercial supplier. The short-term outcome will be increased compatibility of nitrous oxide and methane measurements conducted by independent laboratories globally. The ripple effect will be much larger with increased opportunity for collaboration between chemical and microbial oceanographers to investigate the production of greenhouse gases by marine microbes. C-MORE and the HOT program have already demonstrated their support for this project with HOT cruises providing the sampling opportunity and the inaugural meeting of the international scientists held at C-MORE Hale in February 2014. This project will help guarantee the success of the intercalibration exercise and raise the profile of C-MORE on an international level.

AWARDED JANUARY 2014

Boiteau image Consulting the experts on trace metal speciation

Author: Rene Boiteau, WHOI

As a graduate student at WHOI, my thesis focuses on the structural determination of organic-trace metal compounds present in seawater. We are developing methods of coupling the chromatographic separation of complex organic extracts from seawater with simultaneous mass spectrometry for metal detection and organic characterization. There is a steep learning curve associated with these combined techniques, and testing new approaches is costly and time consuming. To develop these skills, I propose to visit the world leaders in hyphenated mass spectrometry techniques at the Laboratory of Bioinorganic Analytical and Environmental Chemistry (LCABIE) at the University of Pau, France. At LCABIE, I will have the chance to present and discuss my research with experts on the development of instrumentation for determining metal speciation, and I will be able to test several quantification and separation strategies on our samples to determine which ones are best suited for our research questions. Through this visit, I will acquire (1) a better knowledge of the available hyphenated techniques for organic-metal species characterization (2) a network of contacts for follow-up questions and collaborations (3) preliminary data that can be used in future proposals to fund the instrumentation that we need to best carry out this project.

Shulse image Travel Grant to Attend ASM General Meeting 2014

Author: Christine Shulse, UH

Funding provided by EDventures would allow me to attend the American Society for Microbiology’s (ASM) General Meeting in Boston, MA in May 2014 in order to facilitate a workshop titled “Communicating Science to the Public: A Professional Necessity”” This workshop will use storytelling and acting techniques to teach scientists how to communicate their science in a compelling and understandable manner. By facilitating this workshop, I will be taking on a leadership role early in my scientific career. I also expect to present my own research as either a poster or oral presentation and benefit from the professional development workshops ASM offers at the meeting. Broader impacts include the presentation of this science communication workshop to the C-MORE community through a videoconference or at a CAFÉ Call. I will also pass on skills acquired analyzing my own data for presentation at the meeting through a user-touser bioinformatics workshop.

AWARDED SEPTEMBER 2013

PDOC image Maximizing productivity in diverse teams: Effective communication and team-building workshop

Author: C-MORE’s Professional Development Organizing Committee

To become most successful in advancing scientific discovery and literacy, researchers must acquire and practice clear communication skills and develop trust within their teams. The increasingly diverse workforce of the 21st century offers tremendous promise in boosting workforce productivity yet differences in culture, gender, and communication styles can lead to misunderstandings. To this end, the C-MORE Professional Development Organizing Committee proposes to offer a workshop on Effective Communication and Team-Building on Sunday, February 23, prior to the Ocean Sciences Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. The workshop will be open to all C-MORE members and alumni, from undergraduates to senior faculty members, thus fostering interactions among different career levels and across C-MORE institutions. The workshop will be facilitated by an expert in communication-based team building and will incorporate the suggestions and participation of several C-MORE faculty members, both during the planning process and through participation in the workshop. In Session A, participants will work together to develop interpersonal skills, address impacts of bias on communication, and hone strategies for professional conflict mediation. In Session B, senior scientists will share stories of overcoming professional conflicts. Thus, we aim to develop the training of early career scientists as effective mentors in future roles; as such, the workshop will be offered as part of the Diversity Module of C-MORE’s Professional Development Training Program.

Rouco-Molina image Characterizing the microbial diversity within the Trichodesmium consortium

Author: Mónica Rouco-Molina, Columbia

This project will utilize state of the art 16S rRNA analyses to characterize the taxonomic diversity of the epibiont community that lives on Trichodesmuim colonies. Despite the significant contribution of the Trichodesmuim consortium to the nutrient cycling, and recent evidence that quorum sensing within colonies can influence the activity of biogeochemically significant enzymes, relatively little effort has been devoted to understanding microbial diversity within these populations. Leveraging an archived sample set available in the Dyhrman lab, Rouco-Molina will examine how the diversity of the Trichodesmuim heterotrophic community varies over biogeochemical gradients, and between colony types. For instance, comparisons in the taxonomic diversity of colonies from high versus low phosphorus area will give insights into the functional aspect of Trichodesmuim-epibionts associations. The proposed work will increase the understand of the ecological role of the epibiont bacteria in the Trichodesmuim consortium, while contributing to professional development through added knowledge of 16s rRNA sequence analysis using Qiime and Mothur.

AWARDED APRIL 2013

Shulse image Participating in the Woods Hole Marine Biology Laboratories Molecular Evolution Workshop

Author: Lydia Baker, UH

The Marine Biology Laboratories (MBL) Workshop on Molecular Evolution in Woods Hole, Massachusetts is intensive ten-day workshop on molecular genetics that allows students to participate in lectures, discussions, and demonstrations of current molecular evolution theory and application. The course also provided the unique opportunity to learn from instructors who designed the tools used in the course, while also allowing ample time to approach the instructors in a low-pressure, welcoming environment. The 2013 summer course covers the following topics: phylogenetic analysis, population genetics analysis using coalescence theory, Bayesian analysis, maximum likelihood theory and practice, hypothesis testing, databases and sequence matching, molecular evolution integrated at organism and higher levels, comparative genomics, and molecular evolution integrated at lower levels (to name a few).

AWARDED JANUARY 2013

Martinez-Garcia image Genomic and Transcriptional responses of bacterial communities to DOM and inorganic nutrients at station ALOHA

Author: Sandra Martinez-Garcia, UH

Several factors have been proposed to control the utilization of DOM by heterotrophic bacteria: microbial community structure, limitation by inorganic nutrients and also the composition of the DOM. We hypothesize that the metabolic cascades and community succession patterns that regulate the turnover of naturally occurring DOM will be related to the initial heterotrophic bacteria populations and the ambient nutrient concentrations which will determine the extent to which DOM is utilized. The objective of this project is to assess the genomic and transcriptional responses of different heterotrophic bacteria populations from station ALOHA to inputs of ammonium, phosphate and naturally occurring DOM.

Mueller image Training in metagenomic analysis and its application to characterize the RNA viral communities along the Antarctic Peninsula

Author: Jaclyn Mueller, UH

The purpose of this proposal is to provide state-of-the-art training in marine metagenomics for a viral metagenomic sequencing project that is a major component of the author’s dissertation research and the results of which will contribute greatly to the field of viral ecology. Mueller will attend the Strategies and Techniques for Analyzing Microbial Population Structure (STAMPS) course at the Marine Biological Laboratories in Woods Hole, MA this summer. She will learn about the latest metagenomic analytical software and techniques through lectures and hands-on workshops guided by authors of the most effective software and tools available. These techniques will then be applied to investigate the diversity and dynamics of novel RNA viral communities in the Antarctic.

SPECIAL EDITION — EDVENTURES AND THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Career and Networking Workshops for C-MORE Graduate Students and Post-Docs

The workshops collectively had four key objectives: (1) promote scientific collaborations among C-MORE partner institutions; (2) foster networking and leadership among C-MORE’s next generation; (3) encourage participants to more fully utilize the opportunities afforded by EDventures and C-MORE’s Professional Development Training Program; (4) showcase a range of careers in microbial oceanography and related fields, and ways in which students can position themselves for such careers.

See the report (PDF) for full summary of three successful career workshops held at various C-MORE instructions during 2012 and a networking workshop held in association with the 2013 ASLO conference in New Orleans, LA.

AWARDED SEPTEMBER 2012

Robidart and Shilova image Microbial community gene expression in response to episodic mixing events

Author: Julie Robidart and Irina Shilova, UCSC

Bulk biogeochemical properties of seawater are the result of the activities of organisms with diverse ecologies and physiologies. A universal environmental microarray has been designed to gather comprehensive data on the varied sensitivities and response patterns of marine microbes under different oceanographic conditions. A small-scale vertical nutrient entrainment was sampled by a robotic biosensor (the Environmental Sample Processor (ESP)) in the NPSG during the BioLINCS cruise. This project seeks to use the environmental microarray to evaluate the transcriptional response patterns of diverse clades of microorganisms from simulated and real episodic mixing events, which have been shown to occur in high frequency in the NPSG.

[ Top of Page ]

AWARDED APRIL 2012

Schvarcz image Advanced Training in Genomic Analysis and the Characterization of Novel Phytoplankton Virus Genomes

Author: Christopher Schvarcz, UH

The goal of this project is to sequence and characterize the genomes of 14 small virus isolates that infect marine eukaryotic phytoplankton. These virus-host systems were cultivated from coastal (Kāne‘ohe Bay, O‘ahu) and open ocean (Sta. ALOHA) waters and include previously uncharacterized virus types and viruses that infect novel host groups. Genome sequencing will reveal the identity of the viruses and link them to the specific host species that they infect, providing crucial information for studying virus-host interactions in the environment. The project also provides support to receive advanced training at the JGI Microbial Genomics and Metagenomics Workshop, enabling analysis of the sequenced genomes.

Bombar image Bioinformatic and proteomic approaches to investigate the marine bacteriophage, VvAW1

Author: Olivia Nigro, UH

This project aims to use bioinformatic approaches to investigate a newly isolated, identified and sequenced marine bacteriophage, while simultaneously providing the author with an opportunity to enhance her genomic and phylogenetic analysis skill set, and learn proteomic analysis techniques in collaboration with Mak Saito (WHOI). Nigro will complete a summer training course on molecular evolution. Immediately following the workshop, Nigro and Saito will sequence and analyze the proteome of a novel Vibrio phage, VvAW1, which infects the pathogenic, aquatic bacterium Vibrio vulnificus.

Bombar image Identifying associations between N2 fixing bacteria and phytoplankton using Fluorescence Assisted Cell Sorting (FACS) of mixed phytoplankton populations coupled with amplification of nitrogenase (nifH) genes as well as selective amplification of bacterial genomes

Author: Deniz Bombar, UCSC

The main objective of this project is to investigate oceanic, non-cyanobacterial, N2-fixing bacteria using flow cytometric sorting coupled with whole genome sequence assembly. We aim to identify certain non-cyanobacterial diazotrophs in the ocean and add to the knowledge about their physiological capacity and ecological relevance in nitrogen cycling. The proposed work includes testing of new methodologies, like a sample processing protocol that enriches for bacterial DNA before sequencing, in order to overcome the low representation of relatively small bacterial genomes in mixed populations with eukaryotic plankton.

Biller image Potentially large roles for small bacterial vesicles in the ocean

Author: Steven Biller, MIT

Studies on laboratory cultures of Prochlorococcus have shown that this photoautotroph naturally releases small (~100 nm diameter) membrane-bound vesicles during growth. The goal of this project is to conduct preliminary field experiments where we will look for these structures in the ocean and determine their in situ concentrations and contents. We anticipate that this work will result in important baseline information about the relative abundance and potential roles of microbially-produced vesicles in the marine environment.

AWARDED JANUARY 2012

Rii image Travel and Tuition Grant for Santa Fe Science Writing Workshop

Author: Yoshimi Rii, UH

The 2012 Science Writing Workshop in Santa Fe is held annually for 40 selected participants ranging from science writers to research scientists and provides state-of-the-art training for those interested in developing communication skills to bridge science and education in the most effective way. The program consists of presentations by renowned science writers who hold positions at prestigious journals and magazines such as Nature, National Geographic, and New York Times. This workshop provides a unique opportunity to foster relationships with people from various fields and acquire the skills needed in order to become an efficient messenger of science.

[ Top of Page ]

AWARDED APRIL 2011

Moisander et al image Undergraduate research: nitrogen fixation in heterotrophic bacteria in the Sargasso Sea

Authors: Pia Moisander, U Mass Dartmouth; Jonathan Zehr, UCSC

This study aims to examine the ecological significance of (photo)-heterotrophic bacteria that contain genes for N2 fixation (HNM) in the open ocean, using combined field sampling, cultivation, experimentation, and transcriptomics. The study aims to determine whether the diverse communities of non-cyanobacterial Bacteria and Archaea (heterotrophs or photoheterotrophs) found in the open ocean are actively fixing N2 and expressing their N2 fixation genes. We will investigate diversity, function, and ecological significance of HNM, with the overall goal to determine the identity, genomic characteristics, and basic ecology of open ocean HNM. Research on diazotrophs will be initiated at the Bermuda Atlantic Time Series Station.

Munson and Ventouras image Science communication workshop for C-MORE students at MIT and WHOI

Authors: Kathleen Munson, MIT/WHOI; Laure-Anne Ventouras, MIT

After the reported success of the COMPASS workshop on the UH campus and the West Coast institutions, this proposal was created to offer a final COMPASS communication workshop at MIT (November 2011) for the East Coast C-MORE institutions.

AWARDED JANUARY 2011

Bench et al image Science communication workshop for C-MORE graduate students and post-docs

Authors: Shellie Bench, UCSC; Kathleen Munson, WHOI; Jacqueline L. Padilla-Gamiño, UH

After the reported success of the COMPASS workshop on the UH campus, this proposal was created to offer a COMPASS communication workshop at MBARI (May 2011) for the West Coast C-MORE institutions.

Baker image Travel grant to attend the West Coast COMPASS workshop (May 2011)

Author: Lydia Baker, UH

Grote et al image Microbial genomics and metagenomics workshop at the Department of Energy’s Joint Genome Institute

Authors: Jana Grote, UH

The purpose of my proposal is to participate in the five-day workshop “Microbial Genomics and Metagenomics” offered by the U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute (DOE JGI) in Walnut Creek, CA in May 2011. The rapidly increasing number of microbial genome sequences available for study requires straightforward tools to store, administrate, and characterize the data in order to respond to scientific questions. This workshop provides excellent training in using the JGI Integrated Microbial Genomes (IMG) platform, which significantly enhances skills in microbial genomics and metagenomics, one of the fastest growing fields in microbial oceanography at the moment. I will further disseminate this training and expertise to the rest of C-MORE through a presentation and training seminar, and I will provide support for the genome annotation and analysis portion of the 2011 Summer Course in Microbial Oceanography.

AWARDED SEPTEMBER 2010

White and Paytan image Phosphorus in Our Waters

Authors: Angelicque White, OSU; Adina Paytan, UCSC

The major objective of this project is to develop lesson plans and an activity kit on phosphorus that could be used by educators to teach about water quality and nutrients in the environment, with an emphasis on the relationship between human activities and water quality. In particular, educating the general public about the role of P in our aquatic environment and how human activity impacts natural cycles (including that of P) has implications for the creation of literate and environmentally aware citizens. One of the most effective ways of increasing environmental awareness and educating the general public is by providing practical experiences that lead to a formative and lasting understanding of the subject matter. Ultimately, we envision that these kits will be made widely available, as are all C-MORE science kits.

[ Top of Page ]

AWARDED APRIL 2010

Wai et al image Characterizing population dynamics of planktonic Archaea in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre

Authors: Brenner R. Wai, Daniela Böttjer, and Matthew J. Church, UH

The proposed work aims to understand of the role of biotic and abiotic controls on the spatial and temporal dynamics of archaeal populations in the sea, including the effect of sunlight on the vertical distribution and activity level, competition with Bacteria, and dynamics in the archaeal population structure over time at Station ALOHA.

2014 Update: Brenner Wai, the author on this undergraduate sponsored EDventures proposal, recently finished his Masters Degree at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa through Dr. Matt Church, a member of the C-MORE faculty. The title of his thesis was “Temporal and Vertical Variability of Ammonia Oxidizing Archaea in the Subtropical North Pacific Ocean”, and he is a co-author on peer-reviewed papers.

Padilla-Gamiño image Science communication workshop for C-MORE graduate students and post-docs

Author: Jacqueline L. Padilla-Gamiño, UH

This proposal was created to offer a COMPASS communication workshop at University of Hawai‘i, Mānoa, in September 2010, with a focus on communicating science to the media. Students will learn what journalists want from scientists and about the opportunities, challenges, and constraints that arise when bridging the scientific and communication worlds.

AWARDED JANUARY 2010

Robidart image Advancing in situ biogeochemical research in Monterey Bay in collaboration with an MBARI summer intern

Author: Julie Robidart, UCSC

The purpose of this proposal is to work with a C-MORE Scholar on the development of molecular probes for detection of genes involved in Synechococcus biogeochemical processes in Monterey Bay. The Scholar joined the MBARI summer internship program and has learned molecular biology on the bench and on the Environmental Sample Processor (ESP), while enhancing the advising skills of her postdoctoral mentor.

2014 Update: The C-MORE scholar, Sara Thomas, just finished her Masters Degree at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa through Dr. Matt Church, a member of the C-MORE faculty. The title of her thesis was “Distributions and activities of chemolithoautotrophic bacteria in aphotic waters of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre.” In addition, assays from this summer project were used in a recent publication (link below).

[ Top of Page ]

AWARDED OCTOBER 2009

ED16 image Characterization of high affinity P acquisition gene expression and regulation in oligotrophic environments

Author: Solange Duhamel, UH

My project goal is to study the Prochlorococcus pstS gene, which is involved in the high affinity uptake of phosphate (P) from the environment, by looking at its distribution and expression in natural oligotrophic environments. Currently, there is no evidence of the existence of a relationship between the level of pstS gene expression, DIP uptake rates, and DIP concentrations for natural populations. This study will provide a better understanding of a pathway allowing P acquisition under natural P-limiting conditions.

Calil et al image Generation and fate of a Trichodesmium bloom around Station ALOHA

Authors: Paulo H. R. Calil, WHOI; Lionel Guidi, UH

This proposal aims to combine the analysis of the C-MORE-OPEREX cruise data with remotely-sensed data to investigate how sub-mesoscale processes modulate the evolution of a Trichodesmium bloom observed during the cruise.

[ Top of Page ]

AWARDED SEPTEMBER 2009

Robidart image C-MORE grant-writing workshop: Shaping tomorrow’s leaders in microbial oceanography

Author: Julie Robidart, UCSC

A major C-MORE objective is to train the next generation of leaders in microbial oceanography. To become a leader in the field, one must write competitive grants to various funding agencies in order to support his/her research. Therefore, I am developing a grant-writing workshop which consists of two components: an online module that outlines effective grant-writing strategies, and a one-day grant writing program where scientists can evaluate their colleagues’ proposals and gather feedback on their own.

AWARDED AUGUST 2009

Ventouras et al image Measuring the effect of organic iron ligands on marine microbial community structure and activity

Authors: Laure Anne Ventouras, MIT; Kathleen Munson, Mar Nieto-Cid, and Erin Bertrand, WHOI

This proposal was designed to test the hypothesis that complexation of iron with organic ligands may increase iron’s accessibility to the marine microbial community. This is important because iron availability regulates key biochemical reactions that drive the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous biogeochemical cycles.

AWARDED MAY 2009

Robidart image Hydrogen production by marine micro-organisms

Authors: Sam Wilson and Dave Karl, UH; Rachel Foster and Jon Zehr, UCSC

The aim of the research is to measure the production of hydrogen in cultures of marine micro-organisms that are representative of the microbes found at Stn ALOHA in the North Pacific Ocean.

[ Top of Page ]

AWARDED APRIL 2009

Apprill image Development of tutorial materials to enhance training in phylogenetic identifications of microorganisms

Author: Amy Apprill, UH

The goal of this project was to increase graduate student, post-doctoral and early scientist education in the analysis of microbial nucleotide sequence data, and especially methodology to analyze SSU rRNA genes from marine microorganisms. To achieve this goal, a tutorial handbook consisting of seven tutorials and an appendix totaling 51 pages was created and three workshops for 45 participants were held.

AWARDED FEBRUARY 2009

Nieto-Cid et al image Effect of dissolved organic matter fractionation on microbial utilization in the ocean

Authors: Mar Nieto-Cid, Jamie W. Becker, and Daniel J. Repeta, WHOI

This proposal was created in response to 1) unexpected results that molecular size fractionation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) pool changes our ability to detect DOM degradation by the microbial community, and 2) the limited success of previous experiments at sea with high pressure/speed fractionation. We proposed to utilized two High Performance Ultrafiltration Cells to separate the low molecular weight DOM fraction, with slower filtration speeds and lower pressures — proven to be the most efficient at isolating the smaller fraction of the DOM pool from the whole.

[ Top of Page ]

AWARDED AUGUST 2008

Marcus image Proposal for EDventure Grant for C-MORE Oceanographic Cruise Video Project

Author: Lucy Marcus, UH

The objective of this proposal was to create an engaging, informative video on the effects of refractory terrestrial waste on oceanographic processes such as marine microbial dynamics and biogeochemistry. This video will make the information about this cruise available to wide audiences, in an accessible medium.

AWARDED APRIL 2008

Incorporation of Integrated Microbial Genomics (from Joint Genome Institute) Curricula into MIT/WHOI Trace Metal Biogeochemistry Course

Author: Mak Saito, WHOI

The goal of this proposal, in collaboration with the Joint Genome Institute’s (JGI) Education Program, was to integrate concepts of microbial genomes, genomics, and metalloenyzmes into my MIT/WHOI Joint Program Class entitled “Trace Metal Biogeochemistry”, which would significantly enhance the microbial oceanography component of the course and provide cutting-edge training in utilizing genomic tools for some of the next generation of Chemical Oceanography students.

2014 update: This genomics module is now a popular component of Mak’s Marine Bioinorganic Chemistry course at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI).

Foster image Microscopy workshop for phytoplankton and bacterioplankton identification

Author: Rachel Foster, UCSC

Our primary objective for the workshop was to provide a practical guide to students for (1) identifying phytoplanktonic populations by epi-fluorescent microscopy, (2) enumerating phytoplankton and bacterioplankton cells using standard counting methods and various counting chambers, (3) staining and labeling planktonic populations with fluorescently labeled assays (e.g. FISH, DAPI, whole cell immunolabel).

Please contact Michael Rappé (rappe@hawaii.edu) for additional information.

White image Visualizing Microbes: The Oceanic Engine Revealed

Author: Angelicque White, OSU

This project was designed to develop a central image/video library illustrating microbial assemblages.

2014 update: Over the years, images from this repository have been utilized for professional presentations, public presentations and a textbook (Brock Microbiology). They have even been used as art. In 2012, 35 Oregon artists responded to a call from The Arts Center of Corvallis Oregon to create works based on plankton imagery from this project. Submissions came from painters, fabric and glass artists, sculptors, potters and an expert in the ancient Japanese art of stencil dyeing. They comprised a show, The Art of Plankton, Form Follows Function which was a primary exhibit of a local arts and science festival (Da Vinci Days). Details about this show can be found here.

[ Top of Page ]

AWARDED FEBRUARY 2008

Cully image Aquatic Virology Workshop (AVW) at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC, July 6-11, 2008

Author: Alexander Culley, UH

The Aquatic Virus Workshop held in Vancouver B.C. from July 6 to July 11, 2008, combined some of the aspects of a traditional conference with the more participatory aspects of a workshop. Because the conference was so well attended, I was able to attend talks on a wide range of subjects ranging from viral ecology on a global scale to the actions of specific genes during the replication of a single strain of aquatic virus. Afterwards, the more informal panels and discussions provided a forum to discuss specific challenges with the preeminent scientist in the field. For example, I had a noteworthy discussion with Dr. Keizo Nagasaki, a researcher from Japan who has pioneered the isolation and characterization of RNA viruses from marine environments. In summary, the Aquatic Virus Workshop was a productive experience and I am grateful to C-MORE for providing me with the means to participate in it.

Becker image The effects of dissolved organic matter enrichments on microbial activity

Author: Jamie William Becker, MIT-WHOI Joint PhD Program

This project was designed as a pilot study to test the effects of several dissolved organic matter (DOM) amendments (derived from both natural seawater and pure cultures of marine phytoplankton) on the growth of various heterotrophic bacteria. A novel screening method to test DOM lability was employed to investigate the cycling of marine DOM by amending axenic cultures of marine bacteria with organic material derived from a known source. This pilot study is part of a larger effort to explore the chemical nature of DOM and its relation to microbial metabolism and diversity in the oceans.

2014 Update: Data from this project became an integral part of Dr. Jamie Becker’s PhD thesis and was presented at several conferences/universities.

Becker JW, Microbial production and consumption of marine dissolved organic matter. Invited presentation. Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University. New York, NY. June 2013.

Becker JW, DeLong, EF, Repeta DJ, Rappé MS, Grote J, Berube PM, Chisholm SW. Response of cultured heterotrophic bacterioplankton strains to phytoplankton-derived dissolved organic matter additions. Poster. Aquatic Sciences Meeting. New Orleans, LA. February 2013.

Becker JW, Repeta DJ, Rappé MS, Johnson CG, Berube PM, Chisholm SW, Waterbury JB. Around the microbial loop: Tracking dissolved organic matter from biological source to sink. Presentation. Gordon Research Seminar on Marine Microbes. Lucca, Italy. June 2012.

[ Top of Page ]

AWARDED OCTOBER 2007

C-MORE Summer Student Research Fellowship in Marine Microbial Biogeochemistry between the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the University of Puerto Rico at Humacao

Author: Daniel Repeta, WHOI

This proposal was designed to provide designated funding for a C-MORE summer student fellow from the University of Puerto Rico to work in the laboratory of a WHOI C-MORE investigator. The student would apply and compete in the WHOI summer student program on an equal basis with all other students, but if the student were found to meet the admissions criteria, she/he would receive an award to work with a C-MORE investigator.

AWARDED SEPTEMBER 2007

Haley and Dyhrman image The Artistic Oceanographer: Encouraging ocean literacy through multidisciplinary learning

Authors: Sheean T. Haley and Sonya Dyhrman, WHOI

The program is a hands-on, multi-disciplinary effort that pairs science and art to engage elementary school students in ocean sciences.

  • Full Proposal (PDF)
  • Reference (PDF): S. T. Haley and S. T. Dyhrman (2008) The Artistic Oceanographer Program: Encouraging ocean science literacy through multidisciplinary learning. Science and Children. (A Journal of the National Science Teacher’s Association) 46:31-35
  • Handbook (PDF): C-MORE Edition (v.1)

 

[ Top of Page ]