Seaweed Research

POSITION: OPEN (contact me for more information) 1-2 students

Investigate how microbial communities influence the health, fertility, and stress responses of seaweeds, especially during cultivation and environmental change. Students will have the opportunity to conduct microbiome profiling of Macrocystis pyrifera (giant kelp) using 16S rRNA amplicon data.

This work involves computational components:

• Analyzing microbial community composition using tools like QIIME2, DADA2, and Phyloseq

• Exploring how different microbes correlate with growth, reproductive output, or environmental stress (e.g., temperature, nutrient load)
  
  

We pair microbiome data with physiological experiments and field surveys to ask questions like:

• How does the microbiome shift in response to stress or treatment (e.g., antibiotics)?

• Are certain bacteria associated with healthy or reproductively active seaweeds?

• Can microbial fingerprints act as early bioindicators of stress or environmental degradation?
  
  

This work prepares students to engage with molecular ecology, host–microbe interactions, and bioinformatics, while contributing to applied goals in sustainable aquaculture and coastal ecosystem monitoring.

POSITION: OPEN (contact me for more information) 1-2 students 

Our lab is developing scalable methods to cultivate Gracilaria, a native red seaweed with commercial value and ecological benefits. This project focuses on improving biomass yield through controlled cultivation experiments, evaluating how factors such as light intensity, nutrient enrichment, and water flow dynamics influence growth performance.

We are also conducting a life cycle analysis (LCA) to assess the environmental sustainability of Gracilaria cultivation under different system designs. This includes evaluating energy inputs, resource use efficiency, and carbon and nitrogen sequestration potential, with the goal of identifying pathways to low-impact, climate-smart aquaculture.

This applied research supports efforts to build a regional seaweed industry in Florida, promote nutrient bioextraction, and explore the potential of Gracilaria in bioplastic production, biofertilizers, and animal feed. Students gain hands-on experience in tank system maintenance, experimental design, and sustainability assessment while contributing to real-world aquaculture solutions.

POSITION: OPEN (contact me for more information) 2-4 students 

Our lab is supporting regional efforts to document and identify macroalgal diversity along Florida’s Gulf Coast. This project aims to build a reference library of native and invasive seaweed species through field collections, morphological analysis, and molecular barcoding.

We are working to:

• Conduct seasonal surveys across various coastal habitats
  
  

• Use morphological keys and DNA barcoding (e.g., rbcL, COI) for accurate species identification
  
  

• Document habitat preferences and distribution patterns of key species, including those relevant to aquaculture and bioindicator use
  
  

• Create a digital field guide to aid in identification by researchers, students, and local stakeholders
  
  

This project contributes to the foundational knowledge needed to support sustainable aquaculture, ecosystem monitoring, and restoration planning. Students participate in fieldwork, sample preparation, microscopy, and molecular techniques, gaining valuable experience in marine biodiversity research and taxonomic documentation.