Dr. Anne Dekas

Biography

The Dekas Geomicrobiology Laboratory focuses on the understanding of microbiology and biogeochemistry in the deep sea, which is the largest unexplored habitat on the surface of the planet. The research investigates the diversity, distribution, and activity of marine bacteria and archaea that drive carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycling, with a focus on processes that are directly or indirectly involved in the production and consumption of greenhouse gases, such as methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Techniques from molecular biology and isotope geochemistry are utilized to answer key questions related to phylogenetic identity and physiological function, the biogeochemical controls on metabolic rates, and the impacts of specific metabolisms on global-scale biogeochemical cycles and climate. The lab's research ultimately aims to understand how these metabolisms act as positive or negative feedbacks to climate change.

Research Interests