Jeremy Rich

Jeremy Rich is an Associate Professor of Marine Microbiology at the School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine, with a research focus on microbial ecology in marine ecosystems. He is based at the Darling Marine Center in Walpole, ME, and his work bridges molecular biology and biogeochemistry to understand microbial processes in nitrogen cycling.

His research centers on key nitrogen transformation processes—denitrification, anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox), and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA)—that are critical in regulating bioavailable nitrogen in marine environments. These processes influence carbon cycling, water quality, and climate change, particularly under increasing anthropogenic nitrogen inputs.

Dr. Rich employs advanced molecular tools, including next-generation sequencing, and stable isotope techniques to investigate the structure, function, and succession of microbial communities. His work contributes to transforming microbial ecology into a more predictive, experimentally grounded science.

While a full list of publications is available via Google Scholar, his research consistently explores microbial diversity and activity in anoxic marine systems, with implications for ecosystem-level nutrient dynamics.

• NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, Princeton University
• Ph.D., Oregon State University

Dr. Rich advises graduate students and leads an active research laboratory focused on marine microbial processes. His lab integrates field experiments with molecular and isotopic methods to uncover mechanisms controlling nutrient cycling.

He is affiliated with the Darling Marine Center and contributes to the research and academic mission of the School of Marine Sciences at the University of Maine.