Noelle A. Held

Noelle A. Held is a Gabilan Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, Marine & Environmental Biology Section at the University of Southern California. Her research focuses on microbial biogeochemistry, environmental proteomics, and oceanography, with an emphasis on nutrient cycling and global change. She holds a PhD from the MIT-WHOI Joint Program and postdoctoral experience at ETH Zürich and Eawag.

Educations:

• PhD in Chemical Oceanography and Microbial Biogeochemistry (2014–2019), MIT-WHOI Joint Program
• Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (2010–2013), Stetson University

Research Interests: Dr. Held investigates microbial decision-making in nutrient-limited environments, metaproteomic analysis of marine microbial communities, and the application of data science/bioinformatics to oceanographic research. She emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, including fieldwork in ocean time series and collaborative software development (e.g., the Ocean Protein Portal).

Recent Research Trends: Her work bridges microbial physiology and biogeochemical cycles, with studies on Trichodesmium’s role in nitrogen fixation, nutrient co-limitation dynamics, and proteomic responses to environmental stress. Over 20 recent publications explore topics like microbial resource competition, cyanobacterial metabolism, and trace metal availability.

Awards:

• ETH Career Seed Grant (2021)
• NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2019)
• Barry Goldwater Scholar (2013)

Teaching & Mentorship: Instructs methods in marine biology at USC and mentors students (e.g., ETH Zurich masters/PhD researchers Donat Crippa and Natalie Wichmann). Active in promoting wellness for academics through yoga initiatives.

Labs/Teams: Leads research on microbial systems ecology, collaborating with teams at USC, ETH Zurich, and international oceanographic institutions. Engages in fieldwork on cruises like the San Pedro Ocean Time Series.