Margaret Mulholland

Margaret Mulholland is a Professor at the Department of Ocean, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Old Dominion University. Her research focuses on biological oceanography, nitrogen cycling, and harmful algal blooms in marine and estuarine environments.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography (University of Maryland, 1998)
• M.M. in Marine Affairs (University of Washington, 1992)
• M.S. in Biological Oceanography (University of Washington, 1986)
• B.S. in Geology/Biology (University of Notre Dame, 1984)

Research Highlights:

• Co-PI on multiple ECOHAB grants totaling over $5 million to study harmful algal blooms in Chesapeake Bay
• Investigated ocean acidification impacts on nitrogen fixation and microbial communities
• Explored nutrient dynamics in oxygen minimum zones and their effects on marine productivity
• Developed phycoremediation strategies for wastewater nutrient removal

Scientific Contributions:

• Discovered cyanate utilization as a novel nitrogen source in marine systems
• Published extensively on dinoflagellate mixotrophy and bloom dynamics
• Examined climate change effects on coastal and Arctic nitrogen fixation

Advising & Collaborations: Mentored numerous graduate students including Paul Bernhardt, Ben Widner, and Katherine Filippino. Collaborated with institutions like NOAA, NASA, and international universities on global nitrogen cycling studies.

Labs & Teams: Leads the Marine Biogeochemistry Lab at Old Dominion University, focusing on coastal nutrient budgets and microbial interactions.