Erin Field

Erin Field is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at East Carolina University (ECU), housed within the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences. She operates from the Life Sciences & Biotechnology Building (Room 3409) and can be contacted via fielde14@ecu.edu. Field leads the interdisciplinary Field Lab, which investigates microbial drivers of geochemical processes in aquatic environments, with emphasis on water treatment, contaminant mobility, and nutrient cycling.

Education

• Ph.D. in Microbiology, Montana State University (2011)
• B.S. in Environmental Science Biology, Southampton College of Long Island University (2005)

Research Interests

Field specializes in geomicrobiology, particularly microbe-metal interactions involving iron-oxidizing bacteria in marine estuaries, coastal zones, and freshwater systems. Her work examines how biologically produced iron oxides sequester nutrients like phosphorus, nitrogen, and organic carbon, and how environmental factors modulate this process.

She integrates metagenomics, single-cell genomics, and cultivation techniques to overcome challenges in studying unculturable microbes. Current initiatives explore hurricane impacts on microbial communities, shipwreck biofilm assembly, and environmental DNA (eDNA) applications for ecological monitoring and conservation.

Publication Trends

Field's recent publications (2019-2024) reveal sustained focus on microbial responses to anthropogenic and natural disturbances, especially hurricanes and hydrocarbon exposure. She consistently links iron-oxidizing bacteria to metal corrosion, nutrient cycling, and eDNA method development, with genomic analyses underpinning most studies. Her work bridges marine archaeology, fisheries science, and biogeochemistry through field-lab integrative approaches.

Scientific Awards

No scientific awards were documented in the provided materials.

Advising and Grants

• Advising: Mentors graduate students in microbiology and biogeochemistry (specific names unstated).
• Grants: Research supported by external funding for interdisciplinary projects involving field expeditions, genomic analyses, and eDNA repository development.

Labs and Teams

The Field Lab operates the ECU Geomicrobiology facility and an eDNA repository. It combines molecular genomics, geochemical assays, and hydrological modeling to study microbes in shipwrecks, aquifers, and estuarine systems. The team actively disseminates findings via Twitter (@ErinKField) and Weebly-hosted platforms.