Microorganisms are the most numerous, diverse, and active organisms on earth. They dominate many crucial ecological functions, including organic matter production and decomposition, inorganic element cycling, and transfers of mass and energy to higher trophic levels. Microorganisms also interact intimately with higher organisms, entering into many beneficial interactions, as well as parasitic interactions, with animals, plants, and fungi. Despite their importance to all aspects of life on earth, many of these organisms and their activities remain poorly understood. Faculty of the Department of Biological Sciences, the Marine Science Program, and the Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences engage in a broad spectrum of research activities that improve our understanding of microorganisms in the environment.

EM Faculty of the Department of Biological Sciences

	Ron Benner Research Interests: Biogeochemistry and Microbial Ecology. benner@biol.sc.edu
	Madilyn Fletcher, Director of School of the Environment Research Interests: Bacterial attachment to solid surfaces, physiological activity of attached bacteria, and molecular characterization of bacterial communities. fletcher@sc.edu
	Richard Long Research Interests:Marine Microbial Ecology and Biogeochemistry: bacterial-mediated transformation of organic particles; ecology of waterborne pathogens; bacteria-bacteria interactions; bacteria as sources of natural products rlong@biol.sc.edu
	Rick Lovell Research Interests:Molecular microbial ecology; population and community dynamics of microorganisms; interactions between bacteria and higher organisms; physiology and ecology of anaerobic bacteria. lovell@biol.sc.edu
	Jay Pinckney Research Interests: Marine ecology, benthic microbial processes, phytoplankton ecology. jpinckney@biol.sc.edu
	Tammi Richardson Research Interests: Phytoplankton physiology and ecology; marine food webs. richardson@biol.sc.edu