Microbes inhabit and sustain all habitats on Earth. In the oceans, microbes capture solar energy, catalyze biogeochemical transformations of important elements, produce and consume greenhouse gases, and provide the base of the food web.
The purpose of these awards is to help launch the careers of outstanding investigators in the field of marine microbial ecology and evolution who will advance our understanding through experiments, modeling or theory. Investigators must be currently active in research on microbial ecology and/or evolution, excluding research focusing on the microbiomes of animals or plants. Investigators with backgrounds in different fields are encouraged to apply.
The Durham Lab studies cooperative interactions among marine microbes, with a focus on the metabolic exchange of carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen between unicellular algae and bacteria. By studying microbial interactions, the Durham Lab aims to understand how these micron-scale processes impact ecosystem-scale community structure and the fate of elements and climate-active gases in the ocean and atmosphere.
Congratulations Dr. Bryndan Durham!
To learn more about the grant award: https://www.simonsfoundation.org/grant/simons-early-career-investigator-in-aquatic-microbial-ecology-and-evolution-awards/