Eric Miller, Ph.D. candidate
Eric is investigating the iron and boron uptake and localization strategies of two species of brown algae: Ectocarpus siliculosus and Macrocystis pyrifera. Seaweed cultures are maintained in photobioreactors, allowing controlled and axenic growth conditions. The isotopes Fe-55 and Fe-57 allow for uptake measurements and Moessbauer spectroscopy, respectively. Localization of iron and boron has been achieved through microanalysis using fluorescent, scanning electron, and Raman microscopy. Eric has synthesized fluorescent probes specific for iron and boron and correlated the localization to Raman fingerprints to determine ligand identity. Elemental analysis by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) allow for sensitive trace-element detection. B-11 NMR is used to identify the coordination states of boron and the likely biological ligands.
Miller, E., Wu Y., and Carrano, C. “Boron Uptake, Localization and Speciation in Marine Brown Algae.” Manuscript in preparation (2015). Küpper, F., Miller, E., Gachon, C., Chance, R., Carpenter, L., Meyer-Klaucke, W., Muramatsi, Y., Potin, P., Carrano, C., and Feiters, M. “Speciation and localization of bromine and iodine in the brown algal genome model Ectocarpus siliculosus.” J. Biol. Inorg. Chem., submitted (2015). Miller, E., Böttger, L., et al. (2014). Surface bound iron: A metal ion buffer in the marine brown alga Ectocarpus siliculosus. J. Exp. Bot. 65. 585-594. Böttger, L., Miller, E., et al. (2012). Atypical iron storage in marine brown algae: A multidisciplinary study of iron transport and storage in Ectocarpus siliculosus. J. Exp. Bot. 63. 5763-5772. |
Kyoko Yarimizu, Ph.D. student
The bloom of phytoplankton (red tide) at Scripps Pier (San Diego) in 2011 presented a breathtaking bioluminescent phenomenon. Despite this amazing scenery, red tides include toxic species causing severe damage to the marine ecosystems. The sources of the red tide are however yet unknown. Understanding red tides will help us predict and strategize to limit the environmental damage. Kyoko’s research is based on the hypothesis: bacterial-algal symbiosis involving iron as micronutrient may be the initiation of these red tides. Her study particularly focuses on analyzing the relationship between the toxic phytoplankton Lingulodinium polyedrum and Marinobacter algicola (bacteria known to be iron producers) at the Scripps Pier. She hopes her findings will help in gauging local marine environmental damages.
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Jennifer Gonzales, Undergraduate student
Jennifer is examining the influence of population dynamics in marine phytoplankton and iodine exchange in Macrocystis pyrifera. Biogeochemical cycling of iodine primarily occurs in the euphotic zone, where primary oceanic productivity if fueled by photosynthesis. She is interested in the geochemical cycling of elements and chemical exchange between the ocean and atmosphere. |
Mary Carrano, M.S.
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Former Group Members
Postdoctoral Fellows
Dr. Madan Mohan
Dr. Amrit Jhanji
Dr. Marc Bond
Dr. Thomas Otieno
Dr. Norman Dean
Dr. Tim Higgs
Dr. Brian Hammes
Dr. V. Manivannan
Dr. Xuemei Luo
Dr. Zahida Shirin
Dr. Bal Chohan
Dr. Wenfeng Zhou
Ph.D. Students
Shady Amin
Guillermo Santillan
Carl Marrese
Chris Baily
Joseph Bonadies
Ellen Kime-Hunt
M.S. Students
Ryan Barker, M.S.
Andrej Hartnett, M.S.
Elaine Zhou
Ruben Verastgue
Sheila Heater
Jennifer Smith
Justin Hoffman
Rebekah McGirk
Ba L. Tran
Yukiko Uchida
Suhk Singh
Madura Rane
Undergraduate Students
Christopher Triana, B.S.
Ashtian Hobusch, B.S.
Geri Polido, B.S.
Kristine Schroeder, B.S.
M.G. Patch
George A. Bartlett
K.S. Simolo
R. Abbott
Dennis Jurek
Kate Baptie
Chris Warthen
M. Carroll
Megan Jordan
Martin DeRusha
Vincent Dyamuga
Gilbert Valdez
Jennifer Cooper
Wilfredo Ramirez
Steven Holmes
Ladd Mokry
Jennifer Pointer
Jeff Thompson
Tina Smeal
J. Raynak
Shiela J. Heater
Tamara Tarbox
Justin Hoffman
Tim Dwight
Kelly Laggner
V. Porobic
Andrew Drake
Nicole Davis
Lyndsay Trimble
Ariel Romano
Ryan Ferrer
Dr. Madan Mohan
Dr. Amrit Jhanji
Dr. Marc Bond
Dr. Thomas Otieno
Dr. Norman Dean
Dr. Tim Higgs
Dr. Brian Hammes
Dr. V. Manivannan
Dr. Xuemei Luo
Dr. Zahida Shirin
Dr. Bal Chohan
Dr. Wenfeng Zhou
Ph.D. Students
Shady Amin
Guillermo Santillan
Carl Marrese
Chris Baily
Joseph Bonadies
Ellen Kime-Hunt
M.S. Students
Ryan Barker, M.S.
Andrej Hartnett, M.S.
Elaine Zhou
Ruben Verastgue
Sheila Heater
Jennifer Smith
Justin Hoffman
Rebekah McGirk
Ba L. Tran
Yukiko Uchida
Suhk Singh
Madura Rane
Undergraduate Students
Christopher Triana, B.S.
Ashtian Hobusch, B.S.
Geri Polido, B.S.
Kristine Schroeder, B.S.
M.G. Patch
George A. Bartlett
K.S. Simolo
R. Abbott
Dennis Jurek
Kate Baptie
Chris Warthen
M. Carroll
Megan Jordan
Martin DeRusha
Vincent Dyamuga
Gilbert Valdez
Jennifer Cooper
Wilfredo Ramirez
Steven Holmes
Ladd Mokry
Jennifer Pointer
Jeff Thompson
Tina Smeal
J. Raynak
Shiela J. Heater
Tamara Tarbox
Justin Hoffman
Tim Dwight
Kelly Laggner
V. Porobic
Andrew Drake
Nicole Davis
Lyndsay Trimble
Ariel Romano
Ryan Ferrer