Pia Moisander

Pia H. Moisander, PhD is a Professor at the Department of Biology and holds an Affiliate position at the Department of Estuarine and Ocean Sciences, School of Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Her research combines molecular, genomic, microbiological, and biogeochemical approaches to investigate marine microbial ecology with emphasis on microbial influence in marine biogeochemical cycles.

Dr. Moisander's research interests focus on marine microbial ecology, particularly the nitrogen cycle, marine zooplankton microbiomes, nitrogen fixation, and biofilms. Her work employs molecular techniques (amplicon sequencing, metagenomics, fluorescent constructs), microscopy (SEM, micro-FTIR, fluorescence), and cultivation methods. The Moisander Lab investigates microbial community assembly in ocean transects and estuaries, with special attention to nitrogen-fixing organisms.

Analysis of Dr. Moisander's recent publications reveals consistent focus on microbial community dynamics in marine environments, particularly examining how physical forces and nutrient availability shape biofilm formation and microbial interactions. Her work bridges fundamental microbial ecology with practical applications in understanding marine biogeochemical processes.

• ASLA-Fulbright fellowship
• National Research Council Research Associateship at the NASA Ames Research Center

Dr. Moisander has received substantial grant funding including $811,936 from MASSACHUSETTS TECHNOLOGY COLLABORATIVE for The Marine and Environmental Testing Laboratory and $399,666 from the Office of Naval Research for UMassD MUST I: Advances in Underwater Marine Technology. Her research portfolio includes projects funded by NSF Biological Oceanography, NSF Chemical Oceanography, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, USGS, and US Department of Energy. She teaches courses including General Microbiology, Capstone Research, and Graduate Thesis.

The Moisander Lab at UMass Dartmouth conducts research on marine microbial ecology with recent work focused on microbial community assembly in ocean transects and estuaries. Supported by new funding awarded in 2024, the lab is setting up a water quality instrumentation suite at the university pier on the North Atlantic Ocean coast. The lab employs diverse methodologies including molecular techniques, microscopy, and cultivation to investigate microbial processes in marine environments.