Tammi Richardson

Tammi Richardson is a Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of South Carolina’s McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on marine ecology and oceanography, particularly phytoplankton dynamics, harmful algal blooms, and biogeochemical processes influenced by light, nutrients, and temperature. She has contributed to advancing methodologies in phytoplankton classification using optical techniques and drone-based environmental sensing.

Her work integrates field observations, experimental studies, and technological innovations to understand plankton community responses to environmental changes. She has developed novel tools for real-time water quality monitoring and phytoplankton analysis, including fluorometer systems and autonomous sampling drones.

Key areas of investigation include the ecological success of cryptophyte algae, the role of small phytoplankton in carbon export, and the impact of light spectra on algal physiology. Richardson’s research also addresses applications in climate change, pollution, and ecosystem health, with studies ranging from blackwater estuaries to the Arctic Ocean.