Kai Ziervogel

Kai Ziervogel is a Research Associate Professor and Director of the Ocean Process Analysis Laboratory at the University of New Hampshire. His work focuses on microbial oceanography, particularly the role of marine microbes in the ocean’s carbon cycle, including their interactions with oil spills, plastic pollution, and climate change impacts. He teaches courses on oceanography and research methodologies at the graduate level.

Education: Ph.D. and M.S. in Marine Sciences from the University of Rostock, Germany. His research integrates geochemical and microbiological tools to study microbial processes in marine environments, from coastal zones to the deep sea.

Research interests include microbial responses to anthropogenic stressors, biogeochemical cycles, and the formation of marine snow. Recent studies emphasize microplastic impacts, oil degradation pathways, and the dynamics of carbon sequestration in marine systems. His lab investigates microbial enzymatic activities and their role in organic matter decomposition.

Publications highlight advancements in understanding microbial interactions with pollutants and climate drivers. Current work addresses emerging issues like plastic-derived carbon cycling and the ecological consequences of marine oil snow formation.