Research Vision

My research combines mathematical modeling, theoretical ecology, and computational approaches to understand how aquatic ecosystems respond to environmental change across biological scales—from individual cells to global biogeochemical cycles. By integrating ecological theory with experimental observations and field data, I develop mechanistic models that reveal the processes governing biodiversity, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem resilience. My goal is to improve predictions of ecosystem responses to climate change and provide scientific insights that support the sustainable management of marine and freshwater environments.

Current Research

Nitrogen Fixation and Marine Biogeochemistry:

Nitrogen fixation is a fundamental process regulating marine productivity and the global nitrogen cycle. I develop cell-based and trait-based models to investigate the physiological mechanisms and ecological controls of nitrogen fixation by diverse marine microorganisms.

My work has advanced our understanding of heterotrophic nitrogen fixation associated with sinking marine particles and its contribution to the oceanic nitrogen budget (Link, Link). More recently, I have expanded this research to study UCYN-A (Link) and Trichodesmium (Link), exploring how environmental conditions, resource availability, and microbial interactions regulate nitrogen fixation across marine ecosystems. These models contribute to improving predictions of marine biogeochemical cycling under future climate scenarios.

Coral Reef Ecosystems:

I develop mechanistic models to investigate the physiological processes underlying coral bleaching and the resilience of coral reef ecosystems to environmental stress. My research examines how ocean warming, eutrophication, and microplastic pollution—individually and in combination—affect coral physiology, bleaching, and recovery following disturbance. By integrating processes across physiological and ecological scales, my work aims to improve understanding and predictions of coral reef responses to climate change and inform conservation and restoration strategies.

Harmful Algal Blooms Research:

Understanding the mechanisms underlying harmful algal blooms (HABs) has been a long-standing component of my research.

I develop mathematical models describing toxin production, species competition, grazing interactions, and environmental feedbacks that regulate bloom initiation, persistence, and collapse (Link, Link, Link). My work has demonstrated how physiological costs of toxin production, predator-prey interactions, and nutrient availability collectively shape bloom dynamics and ecosystem stability.

These modeling frameworks provide tools for evaluating nutrient management strategies and assessing the ecological impacts of HABs under changing environmental conditions.

Plankton Ecology and Trophic Strategies:

A major focus of my research is understanding how plankton acquire resources and how their trophic strategies shape ecosystem structure and function.

I develop mechanistic models describing mixotrophy, resource allocation, and size-dependent trophic strategies in unicellular plankton (Link). My work has helped explain how environmental conditions determine whether plankton rely on photosynthesis, phagotrophy, or combinations of both, and how these strategies vary across environmental gradients (Link).

More recently, I have investigated how trait variation changes with latitude and how plankton functional diversity influences marine ecosystem functioning, primary production, and carbon cycling on regional and global scales (Link).

Phytoplankton Dynamics and Climate Change:

I use mathematical models to investigate the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of phytoplankton communities under changing environmental conditions.

My research examines how nutrient availability, light, temperature, and hydrodynamic processes influence phytoplankton competition, succession, bloom formation, and community composition. I combine theoretical models with experimental and observational data to improve predictions of phytoplankton dynamics in both marine and freshwater ecosystems.

Current work also investigates how climate warming alters nutrient cycling, plankton diversity, and ecosystem functioning in lakes and oceans.

Theoretical Ecology and  Food-Web Dynamics:

My research is rooted in theoretical ecology, where I develop mathematical models to understand the dynamics of ecological communities and food webs.

Earlier work examined predator-prey interactions, spatial dynamics, trophic cascades, disease ecology, and ecological stability. These studies established many of the theoretical foundations that continue to inform my current research on plankton communities, ecosystem resilience, and marine biogeochemistry.