Research

Biogeochemistry

Biogeochemistry studies the interaction of biological, chemical, and geological processes with the goal of understanding how these interactions modulate elemental cycling and ecosystem dynamics in a range of environments, including coastal margin systems, along continental shelves, in the open…

Biological Oceanography

Biological Oceanography studies the processes affecting the abundance, activity, and diversity of life in the oceans, which includes some of the smallest organisms such as bacteria, phytoplankton, and zooplankton. These organisms collectively drive the productivity of the oceans globally through…

Chemical Oceanography

Chemical Oceanography encompasses the study of the chemical components of the oceans, their reactions, and their pathways of transformation. We study both organic and inorganic compounds; particulate and dissolved material; and their distributions in the ocean’s water column, sediments, and at the…

Climate Change

The oceans play a crucial role in the regulation of Earth’s climate. Our faculty study the stability of our climate system, as well as feedbacks between Earth’s changing climate and marine ecosystems – from shallow coasts to the deep sea, and from tropical to polar latitudes. This research…

Geological Oceanography

Geological Oceanography is the study of sediments and rocks within the coastal and marine environment. Our faculty examine the sediments, sediment transport processes, and stratigraphy of coastal and continental margin environments and how oceanographic processes affect these deposits and…

Marine Ecology

Marine Ecology is an interdisciplinary field that evaluates the relationships between living organisms, nonliving matter, and the environment. Our faculty use a combination of field sampling, experimental approaches, chemical tracers, remote sensing, and mathematical modeling to quantify the…

Marine Microbial Ecology

Microbes play many vital roles in the oceans through the transformation and cycling of elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur. They are fundamental components of marine food webs, and although small, their activities affect global biogeochemical cycles and help regulate our planet’s climate…

Marine Science Education Research

Our department is committed to advancing the field of science education research. This area of study focuses on understanding and improving the ways in which science is taught and learned, both inside and outside the classroom. By exploring innovative teaching methods, curriculum development, and…

Physical Oceanography

Physical Oceanography applies the laws of physics to investigate the structure and dynamics of ocean circulation and water properties, water mass formation, waves, tides, turbulence, and other physical phenomena. We study diverse systems, including estuaries, coastal regions, and the open ocean…

Polar Oceanography

Polar circulation and ecosystems are rapidly changing due to climate shifts. Availability of nutrients and stratification are expected to alter primary production and the export of carbon. In the Southern Ocean, unique stressors shape ecosystems including cold temperatures, ice coverage, light…

Faculty Research Spotlight

Amanda Spivak

Biogeochemistry, Climate Change, Chemical Oceanography, Marine Microbial Ecology

My research group focuses on coastal ecosystem ecology. I seek to develop an integrated understanding of ecological and biogeochemical processes in order to refine the role of estuaries and wetlands in the global carbon cycle and predict the likelihood of recovery from human disturbances. My group uses innovative geochemical tracer…

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