David Walsh is a Professor in the Department of Biology at Concordia University, specializing in the microbial ecology and genomics of aquatic ecosystems. His research explores how climate change and anthropogenic activities affect microbial communities in northern oceans, estuaries, and seasonally ice-covered lakes. Education: PhD, Dalhousie University Research Interests: Microbial ecology of aquatic systems, climate change impacts on oceanic and freshwater microbiomes, environmental genomics, and evolutionary adaptations of microorganisms. His work combines metagenomic and metaproteomic approaches to study biodiversity, metabolic traits, and ecosystem-level responses to environmental stressors. Publication Trends: Recent studies focus on Arctic Ocean microbial transitions, mercury cycling in boreal rivers, and continental-scale lake microbiome patterns. Keywords include environmental genomics, climate change, and aquatic biogeochemistry.
Ulrich Stingl is an Assistant Professor at the University of Florida within the Department of Microbiology and Cell Science , affiliated with the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center . His work focuses on analyzing aquatic microbial communities and their responses to environmental changes through advanced techniques like genomics, transcriptomics, and metagenomic analysis. Research Themes: Structure and function of microbial communities in extreme environments (Red Sea brine pools, Everglades wetlands) Microbial adaptation to salinity and nutrient gradients Role of endophytic and symbiotic microbes in plant health (seagrasses, turfgrasses) Development of cultivation-independent methods for microbial ecology studies Key Collaborations: Contributed to sea level rise education tools through UF/IFAS Extension Multi-institutional work with Florida International University, RAND Corporation, and international marine research teams Methodologies: Meta-omics (metagenomics, transcriptomics) Single-cell genome sequencing Microbial cultivation and bioactivity screening Environmental sensor technologies Scientific Contributions: His recent publications highlight microbial community dynamics in freshwater-marine gradients, extremophile genomics from deep-sea brine lakes, and functional analysis of nitrogen-fixing endophytes in turfgrasses. These works intersect with broader themes of climate resilience, marine ecosystem health, and sustainable agricultural practices.
Kazuyoshi Moriya is a Professor at Waseda University's Faculty of Education and Integrated Arts and Sciences, specializing in evolutionary paleobiology, isotope paleoecology, and paleoceanography. His career spans over two decades, with a focus on understanding ancient marine ecosystems through biogeochemical proxies and microfossil analysis. Bachelor's, Master's, and Ph.D. from Waseda and University of Tokyo Leadership roles in Japan Geoscience Union and Paleosciences Society His research bridges geological time scales with ecological dynamics, particularly examining photosymbiosis in planktonic foraminifera and its evolutionary implications. Recent work highlights two distinct photosymbiosis acquisition waves in foraminifera linked to Eocene extinction and Neogene cooling. He employs advanced isotopic sclerochronology to reconstruct marine paleoenvironments, including bivalve growth patterns and Anthropocene stratigraphy. Dr. Moriya has received multiple accolades, including the PSJ Academic Award (2021) and Best Paper Award (2017). His publications span leading journals like The ISME Journal , Science , and Nature Geoscience , reflecting interdisciplinary collaborations in marine biogeochemistry and tectonic studies. 2021: Palaeontological Society of Japan Academic Award 2017: Best Paper Award, Palaeontological Society of Japan 2015 & 2013: Outstanding Poster Presentation Awards
Dr. Molly Moynihan serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Geosciences at Florida Atlantic University, where she leads the Coral Reef Geochemistry & Microbiology Lab (Reef GeM Lab). Her research bridges marine geology, biogeochemistry, and microbial ecology to investigate fundamental processes sustaining coral reef ecosystems. Her academic training includes: Ph.D. in Marine Biogeochemistry from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (2021) M.S. in Oceanography & Marine Environments from Sorbonne University, France (2014) B.S. in Earth Science from Cornell University (2011) Dr. Moynihan's work centers on the intricate relationships between coral skeletons, endolithic microbes, and biogeochemical cycles. She employs isotope labeling , microsensor technology , and microbiome analysis to unravel how microbial communities within reef frameworks influence skeletal formation, mechanical properties, and nutrient cycling. A significant focus examines green sulfur bacteria in coral microenvironments and their role in sulfur cycling under changing environmental conditions. Her research has particular relevance for understanding coral resilience mechanisms in equatorial reef systems. Analysis of her 11 publications (2012-2025) reveals a strategic evolution from coastal pollution studies toward specialized coral-microbe interactions. Recent work demonstrates sophisticated integration of biomechanical testing with microbial ecology, particularly in high-impact studies on Porites skeletal anisotropy (2022) and coral-associated nitrogen fixation (2022). Her research consistently targets equatorial reef systems, with fieldwork concentrated in the Singapore Strait and Southeast Asian waters. Dr. Moynihan actively mentors graduate students through PhD recruitment in the Reef GeM Lab, emphasizing hands-on training in both field and advanced laboratory techniques. Her lab maintains operational funding through university support and collaborative grants with coral restoration initiatives, enabling participation in regional conservation efforts. Current projects focus on enhancing outplanted coral resilience through microbial community management. The Reef GeM Lab operates as a dynamic research hub where field observations from active reef sites directly inform controlled laboratory experiments . The lab's collaborative framework connects FAU with international research institutions and local restoration practitioners, creating a pipeline from fundamental discovery to applied conservation solutions for threatened coral ecosystems.
Daniel Lehrmann serves as the Gertrude and Walter Pyron Professor in the Geosciences Department at Trinity University, where he teaches paleontology, sedimentary geology, basin analysis, and field geology courses. Originally from Wisconsin, he earned his B.S. and M.S. from the University of Wisconsin system before completing his Ph.D. at the University of Kansas. His research program focuses on marine sedimentary basin evolution, carbonate platform development, Earth's chemical and biological system changes, diagenetic processes, and mass extinction events. Lehrmann employs a comprehensive methodological approach including field work, satellite image analysis, GIS, petrography, geochemistry, biostratigraphy, and forward stratigraphic modeling. His fieldwork spans the Nanpanjiang Basin in south China, additional Chinese basins, and global sites including Indonesia, Japan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Mexico, the Gulf of Mexico, and central/western Texas. Lehrmann's recent publications reveal strong trends in Triassic carbonate platform evolution, Permian-Triassic boundary events, microbialite formation, and advanced analytical techniques including machine learning applications in carbonate petrography. His work demonstrates interdisciplinary integration of paleontology, sedimentology, geochemistry, and structural geology to address fundamental questions in Earth history. Erasmus Haworth Distinguished Alumni Honors in Geology Award from the University of Kansas SEPM best paper award Honorable mention for best paper in Palaios Lehrmann has co-advised graduate students at Rice University, Stanford University, the University of Alabama, and UTSA, while securing over $2 million in external funding from NSF, ACS Petroleum Research Fund, Fulbright Program, and oil companies over 25+ years. He serves as associate editor for the Journal of Sedimentary Research and AAPG Bulletin, and actively participates in geological organizations including the Geological Society of America, Southwest Research Institute, Edward Aquifer Authority, and Witte Museum. Lehrmann also provides geological support for UNESCO World Heritage sites in China and promotes AAPI diversity initiatives through the EAST executive committee.
Dr. Matthew Davey is an Associate Professor of Physiological Ecology at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), which is part of the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI). He serves as Programme Leader for the MSc Algal Biotechnology and Bioeconomy program and is a Science Advisor for the UKRI NERC CCAP facility at SAMS. Previously, he co-established and managed the Algal Innovation Centre at the University of Cambridge and was a Senior Research Associate there from 2013-2020. Dr. Davey earned his PhD in Plant Ecophysiology and Biochemistry from Durham University in 2004, following a BSc in Biology from the University of Wales, Bangor. His academic journey includes postdoctoral positions at the University of Cambridge and University of Sheffield, focusing on algal bioenergy and environmental metabolomics respectively. Dr. Davey specializes in algal physiology, innovation and ecology, with research interests centered on the diversity and plasticity of metabolic traits, especially in extreme habitats. His work spans environmental metabolomics and physiology, discovering traits associated with cold tolerance and the role of metabolic plasticity in responding to environmental and climate change. He also explores algal biotechnology and innovation, investigating novel sources of sustainable biomaterials, nutrients, high-value products, feedstocks and bioenergy for the bioeconomy and space sector. His research extends from the ecology of snow algae in Antarctica to applications in bioenergy, bioremediation, pigments and food production across all continents, including using algae to support astronauts on long-term space missions. Dr. Davey's publication record shows a strong focus on Antarctic snow algae research, with several high-impact papers in Nature Communications and other top journals. His work combines field studies in extreme environments with laboratory analyses and remote sensing techniques to understand algal physiology and ecology. Recent publications demonstrate expanding applications of his research to space exploration, carbon sink quantification, and biotechnology applications. Shortlisted for the University of Cambridge Vice-Chancellor's Impact Awards and Public Engagement with Research TWO Blue Peter badges (1980s) Dr. Davey leads a research team of 10-12 people annually at SAMS, supervising PhD students, MSc students, postdoctoral researchers, technicians, and interns. His research is supported by diverse funding sources including NERC Standard Grants, EIT Food projects, UKRI CCAP-SAMS, and various industry partnerships. He has led four large Antarctic research field seasons, including the first large terrestrial/coastal biology expedition supported by the UKRI BAS Sir David Attenborough ship. Dr. Davey leads the EU EIT-Food international algae biotechnology training courses across Europe and coordinates the Algal Research, Innovation and Environmental Science Centre (ARIES) at CCAP-SAMS. His team at SAMS includes researchers like Dr. Alex Thomson, Dr. Francisca Vermeulen, Naomi Thomas, and Vaila Grigg, focusing on polar algae research and applications.
