Melissa Beth Duhaime

Melissa Beth Duhaime is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Michigan. She holds affiliations with the Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics. Her research focuses on aquatic microbial ecology, viral community genomics, and the interactions between microbes and plastics in marine and freshwater systems. She leads the Duhaime Lab, which investigates viral impacts on biogeochemical cycles and microbial ecosystem functions using omics approaches, model systems, and field studies.

Education: Postdoctoral Fellow (2011, University of Arizona), PhD (2010, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology), B.A. (2005, Cornell University). Her work has been recognized with awards, including the ISME Journal 2020 Best Paper Award. She teaches advanced courses in environmental microbiology, combining fieldwork on the Great Lakes with laboratory research.

Research themes include viral ecology in oceans and freshwater, phage-host model systems (e.g., Pseudoalteromonas), and plastic-microbe associations. Current projects explore Southern Ocean viruses, Great Lakes harmful algal blooms, and microbial degradation of plastics. The lab actively engages in public outreach, including middle school STEM programs and collaborations with environmental organizations.