Team

David Siegel (PI) is a Distinguished Professor in Marine Science at UCSB and brings broad research experiences in ocean biogeochemistry, physical oceanography, remote sensing science, and spatial marine ecology. He is a member of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine consensus study, “A Research Strategy for Ocean Carbon Dioxide Removal and Sequestration”.

Tom Bell (Co-PI) is an Assistant Scientist in Applied Ocean Science and Engineering at WHOI where he leads the spatial ecology and environmental remote sensing laboratory. Bell brings expertise in macroalgal physiology and production modeling, marine spatial planning, remote sensing, and ecosystem carbon cycling.

Daniele Bianchi (Co-PI) is an Assistant Professor at UCLA in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. He is an expert in modeling ocean biogeochemistry with a focus on oxygen and nitrogen cycling through the incorporation of biogeochemical modules into ROMS.

Craig Carlson (Co-PI) is a Professor of Marine Science at UCSB and brings interdisciplinary expertise in marine microbiology and organic biogeochemistry. He evaluates the quantitative links between microbial community structure and their metabolic capabilities that control the biogeochemical patterns of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in marine systems.

Hauke Kite-Powell (Co-PI) is a Research Specialist in the Marine Policy Center at WHOI.  His work focuses on the economics of marine resources and the industries and activities that depend on them. Kite-Powell leads the development of techno-economic assessments for large-scale macroalgal farms under several ARPA-E MARINER projects.

James McWilliams (Co-PI) is the Slichter Professor of Earth Sciences in the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics at UCLA. He is a specialist in oceanic circulation theory and climate and has done extensive simulation research using the Regional Oceanic Modeling System and the Biogeochemical Elemental Cycling codes.

Robert Miller (Co-PI) is a researcher in marine science at UCSB and brings expertise in marine ecology, including benthic-pelagic coupling, benthic ecology, and carbon cycling. He has practical experience in deep and shallow water benthic ecology including use of remotely deployed sensor systems, biological sampling gear, and imaging surveys.

David Valentine (Co-PI) holds the Norris Presidential Endowed Chair in Earth Science at UCSB. Valentine brings expertise in benthic biogeochemistry and carbon cycling, particularly for chemical and microbial processes in low oxygen settings such as OMZs and organic-rich sediments.

Daniel Dauhajre is an Assistant Researcher in the Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Department at UCLA. His research investigates coastal ocean dynamics and their interaction with marine ecosystems.

Chance English is a postdoctoral investigator in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology at UCSB. He specializes in microbial oceanography emphasizing the role of marine microbes in the production, alteration, and fate of dissolved organic matter in the open ocean and coastal kelp forests.

Sebastian Krause is a postdoctoral investigator at the Marine Science Institute at UCSB. his research focusses on microbial activity connected to methane cycling in marine organic-rich surface sediments and on the abiotic breakdown of methane in the marine environment.

Anh Le-Duy Pham is a Ph.D. postdoctoral investigator in the Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Department at UCLA. His research focuses on understanding mechanisms controlling ocean biogeochemical cycles, marine ecosystem dynamics, and their sensitivities and responses to future changes.

Nathalie Eegholm is a Ph.D. graduate student in the Interdepartmental Program of Marine Science at UCSB. Her research focuses on population modeling and remote sensing of giant kelp in the Santa Barbara Channel.

Sara Matsumura is a Ph.D. graduate student in the Interdepartmental Program of Marine Science at UCSB. Her research focuses on carbon dioxide sequestration and plastic degradation via synthetic biology. 

Michaela Sten is a Ph.D. graduate student in the Interdepartmental Program of Marine Science at UCSB. Her research focuses on how phytoplankton communities relate to one another in the open ocean and the role of small scale physical interactions.