Junyao Gu: First-year PhD student in the Johnson research group. I am interested in using a variety of approaches including computational, DNA, qPCR and bioinformatics tools to investigate the diversity and dynamics of microbial communities, focusing on Prochlorococcus and their role in the ocean environment, the relationship among them and biogeochemical cycles, climate change, health risks, and help formulate environmental policies that protect human and ecosystem health. My research interests involve exploring the ocean biogeochemical cycles (carbon and nitrogen) as well as environmental justice.
Laura Givens: Second-year PhD student in the Johnson lab. I am broadly interested in understanding how different populations of marine phytoplankton contribute to the ecology and biogeochemistry of the ocean. This is motivated by a goal to understand and improve ocean health and I hope to use a variety of interdisciplinary approaches to address this. Another major focus of mine is improving science communication through all walks of life!
Courtney Swink: Fourth-year PhD student in the Johnson research group. My research aims are to improve cultivation methods of microalgae for commercial production of algal biofuels and other valuable co-products. I am interested in pairing algal strains with their optimal growing conditions to enhance their performance in large scale systems in order to maximize algal biomass yields at lower energy costs.
Zackary Johnson – PI: Assistant Professor of Biological Oceanography and Biotechnology Dr. Zackary Johnson’s research group studies the abundance, diversity and activity of marine microbes, focusing on Prochlorococcus, the most abundant phytoplankton in the open ocean. Our group also leads MAGIC (Marine AlGae Industrialization Consortium) that is developing microalgae as an economical and reduced carbon source of biofuel and protein. Dr. Johnson’s CV.
