What Do We Do?

Our current research focuses on a wide variety of research topics that are centered on the carbon cycle science in estuarine and coastal environments. In my group, we employ state-of-the-art techniques to quantify carbonate parameters, including total titration alkalinity, total dissolved inorganic carbon (both concentration and stable isotope composition), pH, and partial pressure of carbon dioxide, in water columns as well as in marine sediments.

Given the combined influence of both cyclic and noncyclic climate variability, along with increasing anthropogenic pressures on estuarine and coastal environments—such as rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, fluctuations in freshwater inflows into semi-enclosed estuaries, and widespread eutrophication—significant changes in water carbonate chemistry and carbon fluxes across multiple interfaces are inevitable. These alterations have profound implications for ecosystem health, biogeochemical processes, and the resilience of marine organisms. Our research aims to investigate estuarine biogeochemistry, the dynamics of the coastal ocean carbon cycle, and the progressing impacts of ocean acidification, with a focus on understanding underlying mechanisms and potential mitigation strategies.

Prospective students can email or call me directly to discuss possible research projects that can be conducted in my lab.