Xuefeng Nick Peng

Xuefeng Nick Peng is an Assistant Professor at the School of the Earth, Ocean & Environment within the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of South Carolina. His research bridges microbial ecology and geochemistry to study complex interactions between microorganisms and their environments in marine systems.

• Biogeochemistry
• Geochemistry
• Climate Change
• Coastal Processes
• Earth Systems
• Marine Ecology
• Oceanography

Peng employs laboratory techniques (e.g., mass spectrometry, microbial cultivation), field sampling (e.g., oxygen minimum zones, salt marshes), and computational methods (e.g., bioinformatics, numerical modeling) to investigate microbial roles in nutrient cycling and environmental dynamics. His recent work focuses on nitrogen cycling, fungal adaptations in extreme marine environments, and microbial contributions to biogeochemical processes.

The 15 most recent publications highlight his contributions to understanding nitrogen transformations in marine sediments, fungal diversity in oxygen minimum zones, and genomic adaptations of anaerobic microbes. Key themes include climate change impacts, biogeochemical feedbacks, and microbial community responses to environmental stressors.

Peng’s lab has mentored multiple students, including Margaret Bernish (Master’s thesis), Sydney Staines (Honors thesis), Dylan Lane (Poster Presentation Award), and others who have received scholarships and fellowships. His outreach efforts include collaborations with the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden and field trips at the Baruch Marine Field Lab.