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Promoting a mechanistic understanding of the chemical currencies in marine microbial ecosystems in the context of a changing planet and through increased participation in ocean sciences

MEET THE TEAM
UPDATES
C-CoMP Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Nicole Lynn-Bell (University of Florida) gathers water collected from the Atlantic ocean to be used in sulfur isotope experiments. Photo credit: Lisa Coe, University of Florida.
The second cohort of C-CoMP Bridge-to-PhD Fellows stand in front of the R/V Atlantic Explorer on their trip to Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS) for their Research Week Experience. Photo credit: Victoria Centurino, WHOI.
Photo credit: Krista Longnecker, WHOI.
C-CoMP group photo (including in-person and remote members) taken during the 2023 C-CoMP Annual Meeting. Original photo taken by Jayne Doucette (WHOI) and modified by Laura Gray (WHOI) to include a clearer image of remote attendees.
Natalie Graham, Bridge-to-PhD Fellow in the Kujawinski lab at WHOI, collects filtrate samples for Benzoyl-Chloride Derivitization as part of the C-CoMP Bermuda Insitute of Ocean Science (BIOS) research week in March of 2024. Photo credit: Natalie Graham, WHOI.
The group wraps up the Ocean Genes CURE planning meeting on the University of Georgia campus.
The R/V Atlantic Explorer (AE) typically resides next to BIOS in Ferry Reach, a waterway adjacent to BIOS that leads to the ocean. The AE takes frequent trips out to sea to collect samples for the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series (BATS) program. Image credit: Laura Gray, WHOI.
Click the picture to learn more about the Ruegeria pomeroyi digital microbe.
The biogeochemistry autonomous underwater vehicle Clio is prepared for launch by Mike Jakuba and Eric Chan who work on the R/V Atlantic Explorer. Image credit: Mak Saito, WHOI.
Katie Holloran (MIT/WHOI Joint Program PhD candidate within the Kujawinski lab) samples seawater from Vineyard Sound. Photo credit: Erin McParland, WHOI.
Gretchen Swarr, a Research Associate in the Kujawinski lab at WHOI, prepares metabolite extracts for liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Photo credit: Krista Longnecker, WHOI.
Co-cultures of model marine phytoplankton and bacteria serve as experimental systems for metabolite exchange. Image credit: Frank Ferrer-González.
A chain of the diatom genus Thalassiosira with a green marker of enzyme activity. The Dyhrman Lab, Columbia University.
Extracellular metabolite extracts from surface seawater (contained in vials with blue and white caps) are loaded into the mass spectrometer prior to analysis. Image credit: Laura Gray, WHOI.

Mission

The Center for Chemical Currencies of a Microbial Planet (C-CoMP) leverages recent advances in analytical and data sciences, incorporates new ocean sampling technologies and an open-science framework, and engages scientists, educators, and policy-makers who bring a diversity of expertise, experiences, and viewpoints to bear on promoting a deeper understanding and appreciation of the chemicals and microbial processes that underpin ocean ecosystems and other microbiomes that affect our daily life.

Visit our About webpage to learn more!

Recent Updates

Blog posts

DEI / DEI blog series / Education / Meetings

How to mentor early career researchers in making and presenting posters

September 27, 2024
Education / Experiential Learning / Field work

Students set sail as part of the University of Florida short course on Microbial Life in the Oceans

DEI / DEI blog series / Meetings

Considerations in choosing an inclusive conference location

Connect with C-CoMP

#MTTM

McKenzie Powers is a PhD candidate in Dr. Mary Ann Moran’s lab @universityofga. McKenzie uses metabolomics and metatranscriptomics to investigate the tightly-coupled relationships between marine microbes 🦠 and nutrient cycles (e.g. carbon, nitrogen, sulfur) in the ocean 🌊.

Specifically, her research investigates how increasing temperatures 🌡️ will change the types and concentrations of metabolites produced by phytoplankton and how these changes, in turn, will impact the marine microbes that use these metabolites.

McKenzie is also passionate about broadening access and interest in the ocean sciences through teaching and mentoring. She played an integral role in the development of C-CoMP’s Ocean Genes Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) and is currently writing a manuscript that outlines its implementation and success in the classroom - stay tuned!

#metatranscriptomics #metabolites #metabolomics #marinemicrobes #marinemicrobiology #phytoplankton #oceanography #warmingplanet #nutrients #nutrientcycling #carbon #nitrogen #sulfur #broadeningaccess #broadeningparticipation #diversityinstem #coursebasedundergradresearchexperience #CUREs #oceanliteracy #labexperience #undergraduates #science #nsffunded #nsf #scienceandtechnology

Open
#MTTM McKenzie Powers is a PhD candidate in Dr. Mary Ann Moran’s lab @universityofga. McKenzie uses metabolomics and metatranscriptomics to investigate the tightly-coupled relationships between marine microbes 🦠 and nutrient cycles (e.g. carbon, nitrogen, sulfur) in the ocean 🌊. Specifically, her research investigates how increasing temperatures 🌡️ will change the types and concentrations of metabolites produced by phytoplankton and how these changes, in turn, will impact the marine microbes that use these metabolites. McKenzie is also passionate about broadening access and interest in the ocean sciences through teaching and mentoring. She played an integral role in the development of C-CoMP’s Ocean Genes Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) and is currently writing a manuscript that outlines its implementation and success in the classroom - stay tuned! #metatranscriptomics #metabolites #metabolomics #marinemicrobes #marinemicrobiology #phytoplankton #oceanography #warmingplanet #nutrients #nutrientcycling #carbon #nitrogen #sulfur #broadeningaccess #broadeningparticipation #diversityinstem #coursebasedundergradresearchexperience #CUREs #oceanliteracy #labexperience #undergraduates #science #nsffunded #nsf #scienceandtechnology

Oceanographic fieldwork can also involve plenty of lab time!

In this photo, C-CoMP Bridge-to-PhD Fellow Natalie Graham (member of the Kujawinski lab @whoi.ocean) collects seawater filtrate for metabolomics analysis during the C-CoMP @biosstation Research Week.

The metabolomics method will be used to investigate the identities and concentrations of dissolved metabolites in seawater. Metabolites are the chemical currencies that microbes produce, exchange, consume, and transform. These incredibly important chemical transactions govern the cycling of carbon in the surface ocean, accounting for the movement of 25% of carbon derived from photosynthesis on Earth. C-CoMP is working to identify the metabolites that play critical roles in carbon cycling, determine the rules of the chemical-microbial network, and understand the sensitivity of this network within the context of a changing ocean.

#fieldworkfriday #ccompresearchweek #bios #bermuda #marinemetabolites #metabolites #exometabolomics #marinemicrobes #phytoplankton #primaryproduction #carbon #carboncycling #broadeningparticipation #bridge2phd #bridgetophd #diversityinstem #oceanography #oceandecade #oceanliteracy #scienceandtechnology #nsf #nsffunded

Open
Oceanographic fieldwork can also involve plenty of lab time! In this photo, C-CoMP Bridge-to-PhD Fellow Natalie Graham (member of the Kujawinski lab @whoi.ocean) collects seawater filtrate for metabolomics analysis during the C-CoMP @biosstation Research Week. The metabolomics method will be used to investigate the identities and concentrations of dissolved metabolites in seawater. Metabolites are the chemical currencies that microbes produce, exchange, consume, and transform. These incredibly important chemical transactions govern the cycling of carbon in the surface ocean, accounting for the movement of 25% of carbon derived from photosynthesis on Earth. C-CoMP is working to identify the metabolites that play critical roles in carbon cycling, determine the rules of the chemical-microbial network, and understand the sensitivity of this network within the context of a changing ocean. #fieldworkfriday #ccompresearchweek #bios #bermuda #marinemetabolites #metabolites #exometabolomics #marinemicrobes #phytoplankton #primaryproduction #carbon #carboncycling #broadeningparticipation #bridge2phd #bridgetophd #diversityinstem #oceanography #oceandecade #oceanliteracy #scienceandtechnology #nsf #nsffunded

C-CoMP in the news

FEBRUARY 13, 2024
ASLO honors Elizabeth B. Kujawinski with the 2024 G. Evelyn Hutchinson Award
WHOI News Release

JANUARY 17, 2024
Digital Microbe: A genome-informed data integration framework for collaborative research on emerging model organisms
preLights

JUNE 20, 2023
Research Week Opens the World of Oceanography for C-CoMP Students
BIOS Currents Newsletter

JANUARY 10, 2023
Bridge-to-PhD program at WHOI opens doors for new scientists
Oceanus

C-CoMP Director Dr. Elizabeth Kujawinski stands on a stage at the ASLO Ocean Sciences Meeting in February 2024 to present her award speech for the 2024 G. Evelyn Hutchinson award.
Photo credit: Krista Longnecker, WHOI.

C-CoMP Fellowships

Faculty Fellowship

Postdoctoral Fellowship

Bridge-to-PhD Fellowship

Science and Education Themes

Education

Education & Diversity

Chemical-Currencies

Chemical currencies

Chemical-Network

Chemical-microbial networks

earth

Feedbacks to climate

C-CoMP Institutions are depicted in the map above.

Award Information and Disclaimer

 

C-CoMP is a National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center (Award # 2019589) that is based at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed on this website are those of C-CoMP and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.