Humans’ insatiable quest for economic growth has left its imprint on environmental devastation and depletion of natural resources. Despite their small size, marine phytoplankton— ocean’s invisible, plantlike, single-celled microbes, have tremendous potential to profoundly mediate the planet’s carbon cycle, combat global warming, and provide sustainable feedstock for food and energy. The Marine Genomics and Biotechnology (MGB) program was, therefore, initiated under such context with an aim to address world’s most pressing environmental and ecological issues, and to foster interdisciplinary research in three independent but closely related areas listed below.
1. Microbially-mediated Key Element Cycles
We have a keen interest in studying element cycling in oligotrophic oceans, where associated microbes orchestrate various metabolic processes to sustain functioning of marine life, including C fixation, N metabolism, and S cycling among many others. By integrating “omics” tools and data with detailed physical and biogeochemical constraints, we are seeking to develop new insights into the molecular-level details of how marine microbes affect, and are affected by, diverse oceanic environments, in both ancient and contemporary contexts.
2. Coral Reef Global Change Biology
Coral lives in symbiosis with a plethora of interwoven microorganisms, including dinoflagellates (i.e. zooxanthellae), bacteria, archaea and fungi, which is known to enhance the ability of corals to synthesize calcium carbonate skeleton. Unfortunately, global warming and ocean acidification have recently emerged as key threats to survival of coral reefs. We use advanced genomics and molecular tools to study the impacts of anthropogenic climate change (e.g., rising CO2, acidity and temperature) on reef ecosystem for proper management and protection programs. In particular, we seek to explore the structure and function of this fundamental symbiosis and to understand the genetic basis corals and their symbionts co-adapt to changing environments.
3. Algae Fuels, Chemicals and Health Products
There has been an increased interest in using photosynthetic microalgae and cyanobacteria as a viable feedstock for fuels, chemicals, and nutraceuticals. With advances in NGS biotechnologies, it is now possible to utilize systems biology and metabolic engineering approaches to direct carbon flux towards more sustainable production of petroleum replacement products. The main focus here is to develop a more informed understanding of central metabolism in these fascinating organisms, and use this knowledge to develop cutting-edge technologies and commercially viable solutions for the renewable productions of food, fuels, and green chemicals.
