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
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!
Connect with C-CoMP
#throwback to deploying the CTD rosette from the @rvatlanticexplorer ⚓️.
In this photo, two people standing on deck hold lines to control the deployment of the CTD rosette over the side of the ship from the A-frame davit.
This awesome oceanography action shot was captured by Mica Yang during the C-CoMP @biosstation Research Week.
#fieldworkfriday #ccompresearchweek #bios #rvatlanticexplorer #asthetic #oceanasthetic #bermuda #sargassosea #oceanography #metabolites #fieldwork #deckoperations #actionshot #marinemicrobes #phytoplankton #primaryproduction #teamscience #bridge2phd #nsffunded #scienceandtechnology

#MTTM
Maxfield Palmer is a C-CoMP Bridge-to-PhD Fellow in the Dyhrman Microbial Oceanography Group @columbialamontearth. Max is interested in understanding how nutrient stress shapes phytoplankton physiology and competition in extreme environments.
Max is investigating if a unique diatom Chaetoceros isolate (a type of phytoplankton) has a competitive advantage to growing in low phosphate compared to other diatoms. Max is also using methods like transcriptomics and proteomics to investigate if low phosphate impacts the ability of the diatom to make exometabolites (metabolites that are released by the phytoplankton cell into the surrounding seawater).
Max grew up on the Oregon coast and became fascinated with the ocean while exploring tide pools with his family. Today, Max is seeking to understand how such little marine microbes impact biogeochemical cycling at such large scales and how changing ocean conditions impact these dynamics.
#phytoplankton #diatoms #omics #transcriptomics #proteomics #metabolites #nutrientstress #lowphosphate #experiments #microbialcommunity #marinealgalresearch #oceanography #marinemicrobiology #biogeochemistry #ocean #science #bridge2phd #nsffunded

#MTTM (on a Tuesday!)
Dr. Arianna Krinos is a C-CoMP Postdoctoral Fellow in Mara Freilich’s lab @brownu. Arianna uses insights from ‘omics and culturing experiments in models to understand phytoplankton community interactions and ecosystem implications of genetic diversity.
Within C-CoMP, Arianna is investigating if metabolites can provide insight into community turnover in phytoplankton communities by using metatranscriptomes, culturing phytoplankton, and studying interactions in model space.
Arianna is excited about translating bioinformatic insights into experimental designs and studying the implications of observations in models. She is also strongly motivated by the connection of marine algal research 🦠to water quality 🌊 and ecosystem health ❤️🩹🩺.
#phytoplankton #modelling #omics #metabolites #metatranscriptomics #experiments #bioinformatics #microbialcommunity #marinealgalresearch #waterquality #ecosystemhealth #oceanography #marinemicrobiology #ocean #science #nsffunded #scienceandtechnology #science

The marine chemical-microbial network is busy processing organic matter from photosynthesis during the day ☀️, but what happens at night ✨?
A recent C-CoMP contribution from Dr. Rogier Braakman and colleagues explores a component of this question in their article: Global niche partitioning of purine and pyrimidine cross-feeding among ocean microbes.
Link to article: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adp1949
Photo by @el_viaje_de_xavi
#fieldworkfriday #milkyway #milkyway_nightscapes #oceanasthetic #oceanography #metabolites #diel #network #marinemicrobes #phytoplankton #photosynthesis #primaryproduction #teamscience #nsf #nsffunded #scienceandtechnology

C-CoMP in the news
JANUARY 06, 2025
An abundant phytoplankton feeds a global network of marine microbes
MIT 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 Fellowships
Science and Education Themes

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.