Douglas Capone

Douglas G. Capone is the William and Julie Wrigley Chair in Environmental Studies and Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Southern California (USC). He holds leadership roles as Chair of the Marine & Environmental Biology Section within the Department of Biological Sciences. His research focuses on marine microbial ecology, particularly nitrogen fixation, and its role in global biogeochemical cycles. He has conducted over 30 oceanographic expeditions, including chief scientist roles, and has published extensively in journals like Science and Nature. His work spans tropical oceans, coral reefs, mangroves, and Antarctic ecosystems.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography, University of Miami (1978)
  • B.S. in Biology, University of Miami (1973)
• Affiliations:
  • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (Collaborator)
  • Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies (Member)

His research interests include microbial nitrogen transformations, pollutant impacts on marine sediments, and environmental detoxification. He has led major NSF-funded projects, such as the Biocomplexity in the Environment initiative, and collaborates internationally with institutions in Australia, France, and Germany. Capone’s awards include Fellowships from the American Geophysical Union, AAAS, and the California Academy of Sciences.

His grants include studies on nitrogen dynamics in the Red Sea and Antarctic regions, as well as projects examining microbial processes in coastal ecosystems. Capone’s lab integrates physiology, molecular biology, and remote sensing to address global environmental challenges.