Moran

Bacteria may be invisible to the naked eye, but they’re responsible for keeping our planet alive—from producing food to supporting health. However, much remains unknown about their large-scale impact on the ocean. I research the bacteria in the surface ocean that cycle carbon and other elements, which includes the production and regulation of marine greenhouse gases. In my lab, we aim to uncover key functions of marine bacteria and the factors that regulate them to improve our understanding of the ocean and predict its future.

Interestingly, my field chose me rather than the other way around. From my undergraduate days, I knew I wanted to be an ecologist. This led me to pursue graduate studies at Cornell University with the goal of becoming a plant ecologist. But during my master’s program, serendipity intervened—I came across a scientific paper that revealed to me what truly drives Earth’s ecosystems: microbes.

That discovery shifted my focus, and I became an early recruit in microbiome science. I pursued a Ph.D. in microbial ecology at the University of Georgia because it’s one of the top universities for ecosystem ecology. And after graduating, I was fortunate to join a newly formed UGA Department of Marine Sciences.

Over these years, UGA’s collaborative environment has made a significant impact in my work and allowed me to engage with experts across a range of disciplines, from Marine Sciences to Microbiology, Ecology, and Biochemistry. This interdisciplinary support has made for an extraordinary place to work, learn, and train the next generation of scientists.