About us
Our Team
Andrew Sweetman
Professor of Seafloor Ecology and Biogeochemistry
Scottish Association for Marine Science
An expert of seafloor biodiversity, he explores the impact of various anthropogenic stressors such as deep-sea mining, global warming, aquaculture and invasive species on seafloor ecosystems. Sweetman is currently developing ultra deep-sea landers equipped with autonomous and highly sensitive instruments to measure chemical and physical parameters in benthic mesocosms in the deep sea. These will be the only landers in the UK with the capability to reach the deepest parts of the ocean.
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Franz Geiger
Charles E. and Emma H. Morrison Professor of Chemistry at Northwestern University
Franz leads research that involves experiments and computations to study the special role that surfaces and interfaces play in geochemistry, atmospheric science, and energy processes. His work on energy harvesting by metal nanolayers led the DORI team to pursue an electrochemical hypothesis for dark oxygen production.
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Jeffrey Marlow
Assistant Professor of Biology at Boston University
Jeffrey’s lab studies the metabolic activity of complex microbial communities. From deep-sea methane seeps and hydrothermal vents, to hypersaline lakes, volcanoes, and alkaline springs on land, his work has revealed novel forms of microbial life and shown their involvement in global biogeochemical cycles. To facilitate this research, he has developed new techniques to track metabolic activity on the single-cell level and see microbes within their native microhabitats. Marlow is a National Geographic Explorer and the author of the forthcoming book, The Dark Frontier: Unlocking the Secrets of the Deep Sea.
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Ross Williamson
PhD Student – Scottish Association for Marine Science
Ross is a marine ecologist whose foundational research has focused on impact and recovery patterns of coral and reef associated fish assemblages. He is currently working on managing ecosystem monitoring programs, documenting coral reef health and composition along the west coast of India and optimising various survey methods for use in remote areas.
In February Ross will commence his PhD under Professor Andrew Sweetman investigating biogeochemical cycling in the Clarion-Clipperton zone.
Coming soon
Federica Calabrese
Postdoctoral fellow – Boston University
Dr. Federica Calabrese is a Postdoctoral fellow in the Marlow lab at Boston University. Her research focuses on the interactions between microbes and minerals and how these shape the energetic landscape and their ecosystems, especially in extreme environments. By integrating imaging techniques, molecular targeting approaches, and spectroscopy analysis, her research aims to investigate the physical and metabolic interactions between rocks and inhabiting microbial communities, and their contribution to different biogeochemical cycles.
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