Peter A Fields

Peter A Fields is the Dr. E. Paul & Frances H. Reiff Professor of Biology at Franklin & Marshall College. His research focuses on biochemical adaptations of marine organisms to extreme environments, particularly coral bleaching mechanisms and molecular dynamics of proteins under environmental stress. He holds a Ph.D. in Marine Biology from Scripps Institution of Oceanography (UC San Diego) and completed postdoctoral work at Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station.

His research explores two main areas: (1) biochemical origins of coral bleaching through enzyme thermal stability studies in corals and their algal symbionts Symbiodiniaceae, and (2) molecular dynamics simulations (MDS) using computational methods to model protein behavior under stress. His lab uses tools like VMD/NAMD to study enzymes from marine organisms such as corals, Antarctic fish, and salt marsh mussels.

Fields has secured multiple NSF grants, including a 2017-2020 grant studying biochemical adaptation in coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis and a 2009-2013 grant analyzing stress responses in the ribbed salt marsh mussel Geukensia demissa. His work bridges marine biology and biochemistry, with over 30 peer-reviewed publications since 1990. He advises undergraduate researchers and teaches courses in marine biology, metabolic biochemistry, and tropical biology.

Key findings include identifying thermal mismatches between corals and algal symbionts as drivers of bleaching, and discovering structural adaptations in cold-adapted Antarctic fish enzymes. His proteomic studies reveal how marine organisms adjust metabolic pathways under heat or salinity stress.