Jenan Kharbush

Jenan Kharbush is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Michigan, affiliated with the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA). Her research focuses on microbial biogeochemistry, particularly how microbes mediate carbon and nitrogen cycling in aquatic environments. She employs organic biomarkers, genomic data, and stable isotope geochemistry to study processes like cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms, nitrogen uptake, and organic matter transformation.

Key research interests include nitrogen isotope fractionation in biomarkers, phytoplankton community composition under nutrient stress, and dissolved organic nitrogen dynamics. Her work bridges microbial ecology and large-scale biogeochemical trends, combining lab cultures and field observations. The Kharbush Lab is committed to fostering an inclusive environment and has recently renovated facilities to support advanced research.

Recent projects emphasize understanding microbial community interactions in harmful algal blooms and reconstructing past environmental conditions through sediment records. While no specific awards are listed, she joined the University of Michigan in 2019 as part of new faculty hires in Earth and Environmental Sciences.

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