People

Dr. Elaine Luo

Principle Investigator

I am a marine microbial ecologist with training from University of Toronto, University of Hawai'i, and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Microbial engines drive biogeochemical cycles that influence habitability of life on Earth, yet ocean microbes, and in particular viruses, remain the most abundant yet understudied life-forms on our planet. My lab uses metagenomics combined with stable isotope probing to study the diversity and function of under-studied marine microbes from the open ocean to the deep sea.

Ruthie Freedman

Honors BSc Student

Hi! My name is Ruthie Freedman and I’m a senior undergraduate honors student. I first got involved in research the summer before my junior year as a pre-med student. I was looking for an extracurricular I could devote myself to while also continuing to learn new skills and more about the world of biology. I came to really enjoy the projects I worked on and knew I wanted to continue my involvement in research for the remainder of my undergraduate experience. I joined the Luo Lab because of my interest in marine biology and previous research experience with bacterial microbiology.

Moin Sheam

PhD student

Viruses play crucial roles in biogeochemical cycles, microbial evolution, and microbial population dynamics within the marine environment. Therefore, I am interested in studying the diversity and biogeochemical impacts of viruses in the ocean. As part of my academic journey, I completed a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology from Islamic University, Bangladesh, and a Master of Science in Marine Biology from Ghent University, Belgium. I am enthusiastic about exploring the unexplored viromes of the marine environment and investigating their profound biogeochemical impacts.

Paulo Freire

PhD student

Brazilian, Bioprocess and Biotechnology Engineer from São Paulo State University (UNESP). Collaborator Researcher at the Brazilian Biorenewables National Laboratory - LNBr/CNPEM. Visiting Scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Department of Earth, Atmosphere and Planetary Sciences (EAPS) in 2022 at Professor Gregory Fournier's lab.

Currently, a Ph.D. candidate in Luo's lab, focusing on studying dark carbon metabolic pathways of deep ocean microbial communities inhabiting hydrothermal vents and their multidisciplinary interconnections with astrobiology.

Dr. TJ Rogers

Postdoctoral Scholar

My research interests lie at the intersection of biogeochemistry, geomicrobiology, and bioinformatics. Understanding how extreme environments, and the interactions between the organisms within, shape the community structure can better inform us as to what was possible in earth’s early years as well as what is possible on other planetary bodies with similar conditions. During my PhD at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, I studied biogeochemical processes within the hot springs across and along terrestrial convergent margins. In the future, I hope to continue refining my understanding of these processes in a lab of my own as well as cultivate these same questions in the minds of the next generations of students and the public.

Caelan Walsh

Undergraduate researcher

I’m a senior undergraduate student that have taken several research-based classes and am keen to gain research experience. I joined the Luo Lab because I am interested in studying environmental microbial communities.