Rachael Morgan-Kiss

Rachael Morgan-Kiss is a Professor and Chair of Microbiology at Miami University, with affiliations in the Ecology Research Center, Miami Ecological Big Data Initiative, Cell, Molecular and Structural Biology Graduate Program, and the Center for Aquatic and Watershed Sciences. She leads a dynamic research program in microbial ecology focused on extreme environments, particularly Antarctica.

Research Interests: Her work centers on microbial adaptation to extreme cold, with emphasis on autotrophic microorganisms in permanently ice-covered Antarctic lakes. Her laboratory investigates the physiological, biochemical, and genetic mechanisms that enable survival under low temperatures, high salinity, and prolonged darkness. Key research areas include photosynthesis in psychrophiles, oxidative stress response, circadian rhythms in microalgae, and functional genomics of cold adaptation.

The recent publications reveal a strong focus on Antarctic microalgae, especially Chlamydomonas species, exploring their photosynthetic machinery, metabolic rewiring under stress, genome structure, and ecological roles in stratified lakes. Themes include photoprotection, nutrient limitation, carbon metabolism, and microbial community dynamics in polar ecosystems.

Scientific Awards:

• No specific awards mentioned in the text.

Advising and Grants: Dr. Morgan-Kiss mentors students in the Cell, Molecular and Structural Biology Graduate Program and leads multiple funded research projects. Her grants include long-term NSF LTER projects (2017–2023, 2023–2029) on polar desert ecosystems, a DOE grant on photosynthetic systems (2022–2026), and an NSF Office of Polar Programs grant on microbial interactions in Antarctic lakes (2020–2023). These projects integrate field and laboratory research to understand microbial function in extreme environments.

Labs and Teams: She leads the Morgan-Kiss Laboratory at Miami University, conducting culture-based and field research in Antarctica. She collaborates with researchers across institutions and participates in large-scale initiatives like the Earth Microbiome Project and the International Polar Year (IPY). Her team conducts fieldwork in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, focusing on lakes Bonney, Fryxell, and Vanda.