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Dr. Oscar Sosa
Dr. Oscar Sosa
Ph.D. Biological Oceanography
Ph.D. Biological Oceanography
MIT-WHOI Joint Program 2016
MIT-WHOI Joint Program 2016
I joined the University of Puget Sound, Department of Biology in 2019. I teach introductory biology (Unity of Life: Cells, Molecules and Systems), Genetics, and Applied Bioinformatics. My goal is to promote and enable undergraduate research by introducing students to the myriad of functions mediated by microbes in the ocean. I expose students in my lab to field oceanography research and support independent projects in microbial ecology and metabolism, bioinformatics, and biogeochemistry.
I joined the University of Puget Sound, Department of Biology in 2019. I teach introductory biology (Unity of Life: Cells, Molecules and Systems), Genetics, and Applied Bioinformatics. My goal is to promote and enable undergraduate research by introducing students to the myriad of functions mediated by microbes in the ocean. I expose students in my lab to field oceanography research and support independent projects in microbial ecology and metabolism, bioinformatics, and biogeochemistry.
Past Puget Sound Research Students. Where are they now?
Past Puget Sound Research Students. Where are they now?
Coby Rodriguez
Coby Rodriguez
B.S. Natural Science Biology 2024
B.S. Natural Science Biology 2024
Coby was interested in exploring the possible linkage between cellular physiological stressors and the release of methane. To address this problem, Coby acclimated strains of unicellular marine cyanobacteria to a synthetic growth medium amended with chemicals that could induce or suppress sources of stress. Coby used gas chromatography and a mass spectrometer to measure trace methane concentrations produced by these microbial cultures.
Coby was interested in exploring the possible linkage between cellular physiological stressors and the release of methane. To address this problem, Coby acclimated strains of unicellular marine cyanobacteria to a synthetic growth medium amended with chemicals that could induce or suppress sources of stress. Coby used gas chromatography and a mass spectrometer to measure trace methane concentrations produced by these microbial cultures.
Coby's next step is start a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree!
Claudia Luthy
Claudia Luthy
B.S. Molecular and Cellular Biology 2024
B.S. Molecular and Cellular Biology 2024
I enjoy exploring the overlap between biochemical pathways and microbial organisms, and the complex interactions that are produced. I have been learning how to cultivate marine cyanobacteria in the lab to investigate what types of nutrient-containing compounds these produce could influence the growth of heterotrophic bacteria.
I enjoy exploring the overlap between biochemical pathways and microbial organisms, and the complex interactions that are produced. I have been learning how to cultivate marine cyanobacteria in the lab to investigate what types of nutrient-containing compounds these produce could influence the growth of heterotrophic bacteria.
Claudia joined the Oceanography PhD program at the University of Washington with the Ingalls Lab!
Dillon Conner
Dillon Conner
B.S. Molecular and Cellular Biology 2023
B.S. Molecular and Cellular Biology 2023
Dillon is interested in using genome data and microbial cultivation to study the metabolic properties of marine bacteria. Dillon enjoys tinkering with lab analytical instruments, measuring methane in seawater with a gas chromatograph-FID, and diving into R code.
Dillon is interested in using genome data and microbial cultivation to study the metabolic properties of marine bacteria. Dillon enjoys tinkering with lab analytical instruments, measuring methane in seawater with a gas chromatograph-FID, and diving into R code.
Dillon is currently a Molecular Biologist Research Technician at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle, WA.
Moira Gaffney
Moira Gaffney
B.S. Biology 2024
B.S. Biology 2024
Moira is interested in microbiology approaches to investigate the metabolic functions of marine bacteria and in microbial oceanography approaches to study microbes in their native environment.
Moira is interested in microbiology approaches to investigate the metabolic functions of marine bacteria and in microbial oceanography approaches to study microbes in their native environment.
Heritage University & Pacific Northwest Partnerships NSF REU program
Heritage University & Pacific Northwest Partnerships NSF REU program
Ty Burris aboard the RV Rachel Carson
Tykeediren Burris
Tykeediren Burris
Heirtage University NSF REU 2021 and Barry University
Heirtage University NSF REU 2021 and Barry University
Ty joined the lab in summer 2022 to learn field oceanography methods aboard the RV Rachel Carson and completed a microbiology project to study the response of marine bacteria to the metabolite homarine.
Ty joined the lab in summer 2022 to learn field oceanography methods aboard the RV Rachel Carson and completed a microbiology project to study the response of marine bacteria to the metabolite homarine.
Ty joined the MS Marine Biology graduate program at Texas A&M Corpus Christi in summer 2024 to study fish ecology and evolution!
Yarinet Romero-Maysonet
Yarinet Romero-Maysonet
Heirtage University NSF REU 2021 and Universidad Ana G. Mendez, Puerto Rico
Heirtage University NSF REU 2021 and Universidad Ana G. Mendez, Puerto Rico
Yarinet applied RNAseq and transcriptomics to study the genes expressed by marine bacteria in response to growth on the metabolite homarine.
Yarinet applied RNAseq and transcriptomics to study the genes expressed by marine bacteria in response to growth on the metabolite homarine.
Abby Anderson
Abby Anderson
Heritage University NSF REU 2021 and University of Washington Bioengineering
Heritage University NSF REU 2021 and University of Washington Bioengineering
Abby applied genetic techniques to mutagenize marine bacteria that breakdown nitrogenous metabolites.
Abby applied genetic techniques to mutagenize marine bacteria that breakdown nitrogenous metabolites.
Antonio Franco
Antonio Franco
Heritage University NSF REU 2020
Heritage University NSF REU 2020
Tony did a virtual REU project focusing on metagenomics approaches to investigate the biogeography and ecology of nutrient cycling genes in the ocean.
Sabine Angier
Sabine Angier
B.S. Biology 2022
B.S. Biology 2022
Sabine learned gas chromatography and microbiology approaches to study the production of methane through biochemical pathways involving the demethylation of organic compounds associated with plankton.
Sabine learned gas chromatography and microbiology approaches to study the production of methane through biochemical pathways involving the demethylation of organic compounds associated with plankton.
After graduation, Sabine worked as a Research Technician in the Biology Department at UPS from 2022-2024 with Dr. Bryan Thines.
Sabine joined the University of Rhode Island PhD program in Oceanography in 2024 with Prof. Tatiana Rynearson!
Clarissa Troutman
Clarissa Troutman
B.S. Molecular and Cellular Biology 2022
B.S. Molecular and Cellular Biology 2022
Clarissa applied molecular techniques and bioinformatics approaches to sequence and analyze metagenomes obtained from methane-generating plankton decomposition experiments in nearshore Puget Sound waters. Clarissa learned R and command line programming for her independent projects.
Clarissa applied molecular techniques and bioinformatics approaches to sequence and analyze metagenomes obtained from methane-generating plankton decomposition experiments in nearshore Puget Sound waters. Clarissa learned R and command line programming for her independent projects.
Clarissa landed a Molecular Biology Research Technician position in ICON (Portland, OR) after graduation.
Nicholas Wong
Nicholas Wong
B.S. Biology 2021
B.S. Biology 2021
Nick was interested in molecular biology and genomic approaches to learn about the ecology of microbes. Nick screened marine microbial gene expression databases for genes regulating cell death in bacteria.
Nick is now a Senior Research Associate at Helix (San Diego).
Aldrin Villahermosa
Aldrin Villahermosa
B.S. Biology 2021
B.S. Biology 2021
A. J. analyzed a time-series of marine microbial metagenomes in the open ocean to find genes that followed seasonal cycles in relative abundance. These genes were hypothesized to confer adaptations to changing environmental conditions over the year.
A.J. started the Master in Public Health program at the University of Puget Sound in 2021.
Noah Dillon
Noah Dillon
B.S. Biology 2020
B.S. Biology 2020
Noah developed a thesis project to identify bacterial members of the Puget Sound marine microbiome that produced the greenhouse gas methane. Noah isolated a Marinomonas strain at Point Defiance that was shown to release methane gas in the lab!
Noah developed a thesis project to identify bacterial members of the Puget Sound marine microbiome that produced the greenhouse gas methane. Noah isolated a Marinomonas strain at Point Defiance that was shown to release methane gas in the lab!
Noah completed a PhD in Biology at the University of Oregon in 2024.
Ben Whitley
Ben Whitley
B.S. Biology 2021
B.S. Biology 2021
Ben applied molecular biology techniques on bacterial plasmids for mutagenesis.
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