I am a PhD student fascinated by microbially mediated biogeochemical cycling in coastal ecosystems. I am particularly interested in the role tidal and diel cycles may play in modulating microbial activity (or lack thereof, i.e. dormancy) via shifting redox-conditions and plant-microbe interactions, especially in the face of climate change and sea level rise. I earned my B.S in Environmental Science with a minor in Chemistry at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania where I studied freshwater methane dynamics and the effects of iron on algal blooms. Prior to starting at Northeastern, I worked as Eelgrass Restoration Manager for the Nantucket Land and Water Council and as a Lab Technician for a pharmaceutical development company in Woburn, MA. 

I am broadly interested in the roles of microbe-host relationships in coastal ecosystems, especially the ways these interactions can affect biogeochemical cycling. I am also fascinated by ecological restoration and the ways that we, as people, interact with and shape the world around us. During my PhD, I hope to investigate the potential role of microbes in marsh restoration practices. I am co-advised with Dr. Randall Hughes. Prior to starting at Northeastern, I received a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Yale University and an M.S. in Arctic and Marine Ecology from the University of Tromsø. I have also worked in science communications and fisheries monitoring in Sitka, AK.

I am interested in microbial ecology and fungal-plant interactions within coastal ecosystems. As a PhD Candidate in the Bowen Lab, I'm interested in understanding plant-fungal interactions in salt marshes and how they impact carbon cycling and marsh function. Additionally, I'm interested in understanding microbial contaminations of clam flats. I am currently a Strategic Advancement of Rising Scholars (STARS) Fellow. I earned my B.S. in Biology and Environmental Science with a specialization in ecosystems from the University at Albany (SUNY). As a woman of color in STEM, I hope to further contribute to diversity and inclusivity efforts within STEM and make science more accessible to all through mentorship and outreach. You can learn more about me and my work on my website.

I am a PhD Candidate in the Bowen Lab, and my research spans both ecological and human dimensions. I am also a graduate fellow working with The Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts. I am interested in how human impacts (i.e., nutrient loading) and climate change affects plant-microbe interactions in coastal ecosystems. My work uses 16S rRNA sequencing to determine potential changes in microbial pathways for carbon and nitrogen cycling. I am also interested in how people perceive human-nature relationships across the US, as well as the social barriers behind coastal habitat restoration. I earned my B.S. in Environmental Science and Management with a minor in Soil Science from UC Davis. I also worked as a technician in the Agroecosystem Water Quality Lab (formerly at Iowa State) and a STEM Educator for the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey. As a queer person of color in STEM, I am passionate about outreach education and mentorship! 

I am a postdoctoral research associate at the Bowen Lab, specializing in microbial ecology and carbon cycling in extreme environments. My work employs multi-omics approaches to investigate how hydrologic changes in coastal wetland microbiomes influence microbial communities and metabolic interactions. I am also studying the impact of dynamic soil redox conditions on carbon storage, nutrient transformations, and biogeochemical cycling in salt marsh sediments. A key question I am addressing is how tidal flushing affects microbial carbon dynamics in coastal wetlands. Before joining the Bowen Lab, I earned my Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where I studied the effects of fire frequency and fuel type on microbial community structure in temperate mixed forest soils. My background is in environmental engineering and applied microbiology, with experience in contaminant removal, wastewater treatment, and the environmental protection sector.

Kylea Garces is a future-faculty postdoctoral fellow co-advised by Dr. Jen Bowen. Kylea is a community ecologist and excited by all things fungi! Broadly, her research focuses on community assembly of fungal endophytes, with a particular focus in coastal grasses. Kylea is interested in the ways various stressors associated with global change induce shifts within microbial communities which have cascading effects on the plant host, community, and ecosystem. Within the lab, she has built a foundational culture collection of leaf and root fungal endophytes living within marsh grass, Spartina alterniflora, from Plum Island LTER and continues to explore questions of assembly and function of fungi within the marsh. Additionally, she is committed to increasing science literacy and inclusivity in STEM, with her personal philosophy being education as a form of empowerment. She continues to pursue education research as an action towards progressing the academic experience for undergraduate students, particularly those from minoritized backgrounds. You can learn more about her work here.

I am currently finishing my M.S. in Environmental Science and Policy at Northeastern, and am working part-time as a lab technician after previously completing a co-op with the Bowen and Hughes labs in Fall 2024. I am mainly working on two projects; the Not all Nitrogen (NAN) project, which looks at the effects of different types of nitrogen enrichment on nutrient cycling and other marsh functions, and the CMarsh project, which looks at the effects of tidal oscillations on things like microbial enzymatic nutrient acquisition and carbon flux/storage.

I am a lab technician contributing to work investigating how changing hydrology affects salt marsh ecosystems. My goals are to build more lab bench skills, learn about salt marsh systems, and contribute to research I believe in. I earned my B.A. in Biology from Amherst College, and I have since worked for the Rocky Mountain Conservancy Conservation Corps Vegetation Crew and as a rock climbing route setter and coach.

Bio coming soon... (Welcome back Katrina!)

I am an undergraduate Environmental and Sustainability Sciences major at Northeastern University with a concentration in Environment and Society and a minor in International Affairs. Before joining the Bowen/Hughes Lab, I conducted research in the Ecuadorian Amazon comparing soil quality under traditional Indigenous polyculture systems and monocultures, and worked on a project quantifying carbon sequestration in urban trees in New York City. These experiences sparked my interest in how biological communities regulate nutrient cycling and ecosystem stability across very different environments. I am interested in how ecological processes connect to human impacts, and in the Bowen/Hughes labs I will be working with Ellie focusing on the role of microbes in the marsh and maintaining Spartina Alterniflora and Spartina Patens seedlings. Through my co-op I hope to strengthen my molecular and field ecology skills while gaining a deeper understanding of how research can inform real-world environmental management and restoration.

Bio coming soon... (Welcome back Maya!)

I am passionate about coastal restoration and plant communities. My major is Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, with a concentration in Conservation, Restoration, and Management. My primary focus has been in salt marsh restoration and biogeochemical processes. With PhD candidate Ellie Handler, I conducted field work across Massachusetts salt marshes to assess the performance of runnels. I am now performing independent research on porewater ammonium concentrations as an indicator of runnel success. After graduating in Spring 2027, I intend to enter the realm of restoration and conservation. I look forward to applying my passion for coastal systems to practical applications!