Joye

My work begins with the ocean’s tiniest inhabitants—microbes—and their enormous impact on Earth’s biogeochemical cycles. As a researcher in marine science at the University of Georgia, my team and I are focused on understanding how microbes drive essential biogeochemical processes and how these processes respond to a changing climate. Through interdisciplinary collaborations with engineers, modelers, and chemists, we explore extreme environments, such as deep-sea hydrothermal vents, to better understand the mechanisms that shape life on Earth.

My passion for the ocean began long before I ever dreamed of being a scientist. Growing up, the ocean was my playground. I remember wading out so far past the surf zone that people on the beach looked like tiny dots. The vastness of the ocean never scared me—it felt like home. As a child, I was captivated by the adventures of Jacques Cousteau on television and Sylvia Earle’s record-breaking untethered deep dives. But becoming an oceanographer wasn’t even on my radar. I grew up on a farm, and my father had a big dream for me: to become a doctor. Following his wishes, I headed to UNC-Chapel Hill on a pre-med track, fully intending to become a surgeon. 

Everything changed during my junior year when I took an oceanography class. It lit a spark in me, changing the trajectory of my life. I excelled in the subject matter, so I took additional oceanography classes and field courses. The more I learned about it, the more I realized I was meant to be in this field.

When I started my Ph.D., I wanted to join a place that valued interdisciplinary science because oceanographers need to think across disciplinary lines. Nobody thought I could be an expert in microbiology and chemistry as a biogeochemist. But their doubts only motivated me to prove them wrong.

After completing my doctoral studies, UGA stood out with its strong legacy in ecology and microbiology, along with its burgeoning marine science programs. From the beginning, UGA offered an environment where I could thrive, through supportive colleagues, ambitious research opportunities, and professional development programs. During the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, when my work gained national attention, UGA went above and beyond to provide me with administrative support, media training, and resources to help me manage the unprecedented demands of my time. Their level of commitment greatly shaped my experience here.

In 2010, partially in response to all the work I did after the oil spill, the University of Georgia named me an Athletic Association Distinguished Professor, which was later followed by UGA’s Board of Regents honoring me as a Regents Professor. This endowed chair provides an annual allotment that I’ve been able to use to support small but impactful research projects. Programs like the Leading Large Research Teams training offered through UGA’s Office of Research equipped me with the tools to pursue larger initiatives. One of my current goals is establishing a dedicated research center for ocean studies at UGA—a vision I’m actively working to make a reality.

Today, I continue to push the boundaries of ocean research. From leading large-scale projects to mentoring the next generation of scientists at UGA, my deep curiosity about the natural world and a desire to protect it drive my work. I’ve been studying the ocean for decades, and the thrill of discovery never fades.