News – DURHAM LAB

Lab presentations at GRC Marine Microbes
6/7/2026
Lisa, Erik, and Bryn presented their work at the Gordon Research Conference on Marine Microbes “Decoding the Marine Microbial World: Currencies, Interactions and Environmental Controls” in Barcelona, Spain. We also made a trip to visit Sitges.

Three people stand against a stone wall overlooking the Mediterranean Sea in Sitges, Spain, under a sunny, blue sky.

Lisa, Bryn, and Erik at Sitges, Spain.

Welcome, Allyson!
6/1/2026
Allyson Underhill has joined our lab as an undergraduate researcher. Allyson was a student in our Spring 2026 Immersion course who decided to continue research in our lab. She will be working with Erik Broemsen on dinoflagellate mixotrophy experiments. Glad to have you keep working with us, Allyson!

A woman with curly hair smiles at the beach, wearing a dark brown shirt, with the ocean and blue sky in the background.

New undergraduate researcher, Allyson.

Congrats and farewell, Felipe!
5/28/2026
Undergraduate researcher Felipe Quintana will be graduating and heading off to a PhD program at UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography. Felipe joined us back in 2023 as part of the SF2UF Bridge to Baccalaureate Program, transferring from Santa Fe Community College to UF to purse authentic research and a degree in marine science. Felipe has been an integral part of our lab for several years, spanning two cruises, many projects, and he will be missed tremendously. Best of luck to Felipe in graduate school!

A person in safety gear handles oceanographic equipment on a ship's deck, with the ocean and blue sky in the background.

Felipe assisting with the CTD niskin rosette during deck field work.

Niraj heads to Germany
5/1/2026
Niraj received a prestigious fellowship through the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) Re-Invitation Programme! He will spend some time at University of Marburg to train on the latest untargted metabolomics workflows and annotation pipelines. Congrats, Niraj!

A person stands in a classroom presenting a slide with a group photo, logos, and a “Thank you!” message projected on the wall.

Niraj presenting his research during his visit to Germany.

Lisa publishes a dissertation chapter!
3/29/2026
Lisa Coe has published one of her dissertation chapters in Frontiers in Marine Science titled “Ocean literacy knowledge in informal education: a systematic literature review.” Here, Lisa finds that Ocean Literacy principles and concepts are unevenly represented in informal educational spaces, with a particular bias towards the biodiversity of ocean life (Concept 5C) and the role of humans hurting (Concept 6E) or helping (Concept 6G) the ocean. These results provide a useful framework to support future reforming and reframing of ocean education in informal education practices. Check out the paper! Well done, Lisa!

Bar chart depicting the prevalence of ocean literacy principles in studies. Principle 6 is highest at 29%, followed by 5 at 24%, others range from 0-9%.

Figure from Lisa’s manuscript. Bar chart showing prevalence of each OL Principle as a percentage of the publications included in the study (N = 32) that were coded for each principle. The number above the bar indicates the number of publications that were coded for the given principle, represented by x-axis labels.

Laurel Meke defends PhD!
3/24/2026
Laurel Meke, PhD, successfully defended her thesis, entitled “Resolving metabolites implicated in plankton ecology and nutrient cycling in the oceans using LC-MS metabolomics.” We celebrated afterwards with labmates and friends and bowls of ramen. Laurel will be focusing on getting her chapters submitted in the next few months, so look out for those publications soon. Congrats, Laurel!

Two smiling individuals stand in front of a presentation slide about ocean nutrient cycling and LC-MS metabolomics. The setting is casual and academic.

Laurel & Bryn in front of Laurel’s defense presentation.

The second iteration of our Microbial Life in the Oceans Immersion course
3/13/2026
We ran our “Microbial Life in the Oceans” Immersion course again this spring semester. We had a wonderful group of undergraduates enrolled. Some highlights included a day-cruise in Tampa Bay and a student-led poster presentation at the Science by the Shore Research Symposium at UF Whitney Lab.

A group of people pose in front a researcher ship. The backdrop is sunset over the water.

Cruise participants in front of R/V Hogarth.

Niraj and Bryn present at the GRC on Marine Natural Products
3/5/2026
Niraj and Bryn presented their work at the Gordon Research Conference on Marine Natural Products “Foundational Approaches and Enabling Technologies for Investigation of Complex Systems” in Ventura, California. It was both Bryn and Niraj’s first time attending this meeting, and it was a great experience!Niraj and Bryn presented their work at the Gordon Research Conference on Marine Natural Products “Foundational Approaches and Enabling Technologies for Investigation of Complex Systems” in Ventura, California. It was both Bryn and Niraj’s first time attending this meeting, and it was a great experience!

Two people smile at the camera while standing in front of a scientific poster. The mood is cheerful.

Bryn and Niraj in front of Niraj’s GRC poster.

Congrats, Lisa & Alex!
2/23/2026
Lisa Coe and Alex Horvath both received awards at the annual department awards ceremony! Lisa won the Michael May Interdisciplinary Grant to support a new educational research project on the UF Biology undergraduate Immersion Program (along with Zulay Rodriguez in College of Ed) and the Davis Graduate Award in Botany to support travel for an upcoming research conference! Alex Horvath won the Mildred Mason Griffith Botany Grant to support a new microbial natural projects chemistry research project. Well done!

Three people smile at the camera while standing together outdoors. They are casually dressed with a background of a modern building. The mood is cheerful.

Lisa, Bryn, and Alex in the courtyard after the awards ceremony.

New paper on SCOPE-Gradients amplicon data!
1/16/2026
Paper led by Rebecca Key as part of the Simons Foundation SCOPE-Gradients Program is out in mSystems. By integrating molecular and biogeochemical measurements from the North Pacific Transition Zone using combined network and multivariate modeling, we identified specific pico-phytoplankton strongly linked to community production and organic nutrients levels. Congrats to Becca on her first, first-author publication! Check out the paper!

Graphs display data from three research cruises (2016, 2017, 2019) on marine biochemical features against latitude. Section A compares relative abundance of six microbial groups. Section B shows trends in PON, POC, and NCP. Section C presents multivariate models with pie charts illustrating explained and unexplained variance. The tone is scientific.

Figure from Key et al. 2026. We combine three years worth of community compositional data (derived from 16S and 18S gene amplicons) with concurrent biogeochemical data (particulate organic matter and net community productivity data) to link specific picoplankton taxa to observed shifts in community -scale processes.

New paper on sulfonate cysteinolic acid!
12/17/2025
Through collaboration between our lab and Spencer Williams’ group at University of Melbourne, we have characterized a novel bacterial degradation pathway for marine sulfonate cysteinolic acid. Combining proteomics, reverse genetics, recombinant gene expression, and enzyme assays, the team validates two key degradation steps for cysteinolic acid. We also show that gene homologs are prevalent in marine bacterial communities across ocean regions. The work is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Check out the paper!

Diagram showing the catabolic pathway in Ruegeria pomeroyi. It includes the conversion of D-cysteinolc acid to L-cysteic acid via enzymes ClaA and ClaB.

Graphical abstract from Burchill et al. 2025. New bacterial degradation pathway for cysteinolic acid involving ClaA and ClaB enzymes.

Congrats, Lisa!
10/30/2025
Lisa Coe successfully passed their qualifying exam! Lisa joined the lab in 2023 and has made great progress in two years, from successfully creating CRISPR gene-knockouts in diatoms to leading science educational research of the UF Biology Immersion program through photo-narration. Multiple co-authored manuscripts published/in revision, undergraduate mentorship, a departmental service award, among other accomplishments! Excellent job, Lisa!

Person wearing black clothes leans over ship's green railing to photograph deep blue ocean waves. Life preserver and camera gear visible. Cloudy sky.

Lisa conducting photography aboard a research vessel during our Immersion course.

Nicole a new faculty at Bethune-Cookman!
9/1/2025
Nicole has moved into a new role as faculty at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona, Florida. Nicole is going to be a fantastic instructor and faculty member in their Biology Department. Congrats, Nicole!

Woman in a lab coat smiles in a laboratory setting, standing near a microscope and shelves with various lab equipment, creating an atmosphere of scientific exploration.

Nicole in the lab.

Welcome, Carolina!
8/16/2025
Carolina Deupi has joined our lab as an undergraduate researcher. Carolina will be working with Lisa Coe to learn the ropes of CRISPR gene-knockouts in diatoms. Welcome, Carolina!

A young person with short, wavy hair smiles brightly while standing outdoors. They're wearing a light green shirt with lush green trees in the background.

New undergraduate researcher, Carolina.

Bryn becomes Editor at mSystems!
7/1/2025
Bryn is now an editor for American Society for Microbiology (ASM) journal mSystems. The journal is open-access and publishes diverse systems microbiology research, from the scale of single cell to ecosystem dynamics.

mSystems. An open access journal published by the American Society for Microbiology.

ASM journal mSystems logo.

New paper on ecological metabolites!
6/19/2025
New synthesis article led by Bryn Durham and Winn Johnson (UNC-Wilmington) was published in Limnology & Oceanography Letters! We develop an ecological framework to categorize metabolites that shape key characteristics of marine ecosystems. We borrow familiar terms from the macroecology discipline that define important types of ecosystem species, and we adapt these species concepts to marine metabolites. Check out the paper! A rewarding collaborative project with many amazing researchers, stemming from labile DOM workshop orchestrated by NSF C-CoMP!

Circular diagram depicting diverse microorganisms, including algae and plankton, with labeled sections on metabolite impact and ecosystem status, conveying marine diversity.

Figure from Durham & Johnson et al. 2025 depicting microbial metabolites (a,b) and their ecological categorization as dominant, keystone, and indicator metabolites (c,d).

New paper on questiomycins!
6/19/2025
New article led by Shuxin Yang was published in Chemical Communications! We report the total synthesis of questiomycins A, C–E and synthetic analogues, and their algaecidal activity against harmful bloom-forming algae species, including Florida red tideKarenia brevis. Niraj Aryal and Bryn Durham were co-authors, leading the algicidal assays. Check out the paper! A fun project with collaborators at University of Melbourne!

Graphical abstract from Yang et al. 2025.

Bryn presents at M2C2!
3/17/2025
Bryn Durham was invited to present our lab research at the M2C2: Marine Microbial Chemical Communication conference held at NIOZ, the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, in Texel, The Netherlands. The conference brings together experts from various molecular and chemical disciplines to discuss recent progress and challenges in marine microbial chemical ecology. It was a fantastic meeting, and Bryn will be co-organizing the next M2C2 meeting for 2027, so be on the lookout for more information!

Stylized illustration of cellular structures and molecules inside a drop on a blue water background, conveying a scientific and innovative tone.

M2C2: Marine Microbial Chemical Communication conference logo.

Welcome, Erik!
3/15/2025
We are excited to welcome postdoctoral researcher Dr. Erik Broemsen to our group! Erik’s research expertise is in the growth dynamics of mixotrophic dinoflagellates. He completed his graduate work at UNC-Charlotte, and at UF, he will continue research in the realm of mixotrophy and its impacts on marine biogeochemistry. He will be conducting mixotrophy experiments that incorporate measurements of cell physiology, metabolic rates, metabolomics, and nutrient dynamics. In addition, Erik will be involved in running our Spring Immersion CURE course. We look forward to having Erik’s expertise on our team!

A smiling scientist in a lab coat and blue gloves works in a lab, handling samples in a fume hood, conveying a sense of focus and positivity.

Erik in the lab.

Becca defends PhD!
2/27/2025
Rebecca Key successfully defended her thesis, entitled “Microbial dynamics across ecosystem gradients from seascapes to landscapes.” She presented her work to the department, and we celebrated afterwards with friends and colleagues. Becca will stick around for a few more months to get her manuscripts submitted, so look out for those publications soon. Congrats, Becca!

Four people smiling in an office, posing for a group selfie. One holds a laptop showing a video call with another person, creating a friendly and connected atmosphere.

Bryn and Becca with the rest of the committee (Mathew Leibold, Stuart McDaniel, and Dale Laughinghouse on zoom) after Becca passed her final exam.

Bryn selected a 2024 Kavli Fellow!
12/1/2024
The National Academy of Sciences announced the selection of 162 of the nation’s brightest young scientists from industry, academia, and government to take part in the 2024 Kavli Frontiers of Science symposia. Frontiers symposia bring together early-career scientists who have already made recognized contributions to science in a variety of disciplines. These symposia provide a forum for Fellows to share ideas across disciplines and to build professional networks to help them further advance in their careers. Bryn attended the Frontiers symposium held November 19-21, 2024, in Beijing, China, and she will be a co-organizer for the future Kavli Symposium in 2026.

Smiling woman takes a selfie on the Great Wall of China, with mountains in the background under a clear blue sky, conveying joy and adventure.

Bryn at the Great Wall of China.

Nicole and Sasha present at Science by the Shore!
9/14/2024
Nicole Lynn-Bell and high-school intern Sasha Stein presented their work at th Science by the Shore Symposium held at Whitney Lab this weekend. Their poster focused on exploring microbial populations (through microscopy and rDNA sequencing) along aquatic environments in North Florida. Not only did Nicole and Sasha do an amazing job of pulling together some very fresh data for the symposium, but they won 1st place poster at the symposium! Bravo, we are so proud!

Two people stand beside a science poster titled "An exploration of MICROBES By the shore!" in a classroom setting. Both are smiling and dressed casually.

Nicole and Sasha standing next to their poster.

Welcome, Alex!
8/16/2024
Welcome to new graduate student, Alex Horvath! Alex is going to be working on soil microbes and their interactions. Alex is working jointly in our lab and the lab of Dr. Stuart McDaniel. Alex has a research background in soil chemistry, and we look forward to the new research directions he is going to explore!

Young person with curly hair smiling broadly inside a car. They wear a blue shirt, and sunlight filters in, creating a cheerful, relaxed atmosphere.

Alex Horvath headshot.

Becca and Bryn present at the GRC Marine Microbes!
6/14/2024
Becca and Bryn presented their work at the Gordon Research Conference on Marine Microbes “Linking Genes, Rates, and Biogeochemistry in Marine Microbiology” in Switzerland.

Two smiling women stand in front of a scenic mountain landscape, with lush green fields and wooden cabins. The sky is bright blue with scattered clouds.

Bryn and Becca standing against a backdrop of the Swiss Alps.

Felipe heads to Skidaway for summer research!
5/25/2024
Felipe was selected to participate in a research internship at Skidaway Institute of Oceanography for the summer. He will be assisting in Dr. Natalie Cohen’s lab with research on plankton mixotrophy. We wish Felipe much success, and we look forward to hearing about all he has learned when he returns to UF in Fall.

A person wearing a yellow hard hat, sunglasses, and an orange life vest is holding a rope on a boat. The ocean and sky with clouds are in the background.

Felipe Quintana handling lines during deckwork.

Congrats, Laurel & Becca!
2/5/2024
Laurel Meke and Becca Key both received awards at the annual department awards ceremony! Laurel won the Frank Maturo Excellence Fund Award to support new algal-bacterial interaction research, and Becca won the Davis Graduate Award in Botany to support travel for an upcoming research conference! Well done!

Three women smile at the camera while standing together outdoors. They are casually dressed with a background of people and a modern building. The mood is cheerful.

Laurel, Bryn, and Becca in the courtyard after the awards ceremony.