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Department of Marine Sciences at University of Georgia

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Department of Marine Sciences at University of Georgia

Welcome to the official UGA Marine Sciences Department Page! Keep in contact with former and current students, staff, and faculty. and M.S.

The UGA Department of Marine Sciences has 14 full-time faculty located on the Athens campus and 12 full-time located on the Savannah (SkIO) campus engaged in teaching and research at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Faculty research interests range from the ecology of bacteria and phytoplankton, to inorganic and organic biogeochemistry, to ecosystem dynamics modeling and ocean acoustics. We offer graduate degree programs at the Ph.D. levels with concentrations in biological, chemical, and physical oceanography. Current graduate students are conducting research in coastal ecology and processes, biological oceanography, molecular microbial ecology, sediment processes, environmental genomics, and marine ecosystem modeling. Reflecting this breadth of interests, our alumni work in academia in both research and outreach positions, industry such as biofuels and environmental consulting, and with governmental agencies. The Department of Marine Sciences participates in the undergraduate Interdisciplinary Studies Program, the Water Resources Graduate Certificate Program, and the Coastal and Oceanographic Engineering Certificate Program.

09/10/2026

🎉 Kudos to Dr. Amanda Spivak and Dr. Jimmy Nelson, co-authors on this new publication in PNAS! 👏👏👏

What happens when consumer diversity changes? 🐠

The research team analyzed ~25 years of fish community data from 146 sites across coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass, and kelp ecosystems.

They found that greater fish species richness increases the stability of nutrient cycling, measured through the nitrogen supplied via excretion. 🐟🌿

A key driver?

Species asynchrony: when species fluctuate differently over time, helping stabilize ecosystem functions.

These findings expand biodiversity–stability theory and deepen our understanding of how biodiversity helps support stable and resilient ecosystems. 🌎💙

Congratulations, Amanda and Jimmy, on this great contribution! 🌊

08/29/2026

Huge congratulations to Dr. Christof Meile on his DOE Phase I Genesis Mission award! 👏

🌎 Why does this matter? Microbes don’t act based on genes alone. Their behavior is shaped by their environment and by the other microbes around them.

In this project, researchers from the California Institute of Technology (lead institution), University of Georgia, and Argonne National Laboratory will harness the power of AI, advanced computing, and scientific data to develop dynamic models of microbial behavior.

🔬 Their focus? Methane-consuming microbial partnerships that thrive in low-energy, oxygen-free environments.

By bringing together microbiology, chemistry, and AI, the team hopes to better understand - and ultimately predict - how microbial communities function and respond to environmental change. 🦠🧪💻

Curious to learn more about Dr. Meile’s research? Check here: https://meilelab.franklinresearch.uga.edu/research-0

08/24/2026

Interested in learning how satellites work ? 🛰️

Ever wondered how satellite data can help you study our oceans? 🌊📊 Then this graduate course is for you!

Explore the power of ocean satellite data and discover new ways to understand our planet from above. 🌎

📚 Offered Spring 2027!

Don’t miss this opportunity to take your research to the next level! ✨

08/17/2026

Turns out, being a coastal and marine scientist is kinda chic. 🌊✨🔬

08/12/2026

🌊Big congratulations to Dr. Natalie Cohen and her lab on two new grants! 🎉

Based at UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography (SkIO), Dr. Cohen and her team have some exciting science ahead!

The first new project, funded by NOAA ECOHAB, will investigate harmful algal bloom (HAB) species blooming in coastal Georgia and Florida, with a focus on the northern Indian River Lagoon. This project is in collaboration with researchers at Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and will combine lab culture experiments, field sampling, and modeling.

Meet Felipe Quintana, the incoming PhD student who will lead the project efforts! Felipe first came to SkIO as a summer intern a few years ago and is now coming back to start his graduate journey. Welcome back, Felipe! 🔬🎓

The team is heading into the field in Fall 2026, so stay tuned for science updates and some very cool fieldwork photos!

The second newly funded project, supported by the NSF Biological Oceanography in collaboration with Dr. Suzana Leles (UTMSI), will explore how mixotrophic protists in the ocean respond to climate change, including higher temperatures and lower nutrients (stronger stratification). This research will combine lab culture experiments, bioinformatics, and modeling integration.

Want to learn more about Dr. Cohen’s exciting projects? Here: https://cohenlabuga.com/projects

07/30/2026

🍦 Ice cream for a great cause? Count us in! 🌊💙

Join the Marine Sciences Graduate Student Association (MSGSA) for a Jeni’s Percentage Night on August 19, from 4–7 PM! During the event, 25% of in-store sales will be donated to support MSGSA.

✨ What to expect:
🦐 Outreach table featuring marine critters and plankton
🍨 Plenty of delicious flavors, including dairy-free options
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Bring your friends, family, frenemies, and yes, even your pets!

📍 Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
1710 S. Lumpkin St., Athens, GA

🚗 Parking in Five Points can be tricky, so consider carpooling.

Come enjoy some amazing ice cream, connect with fellow marine science enthusiasts, and support our graduate students. We hope to see you there!😋

07/07/2026

✨ Fourth-year Ocean Science major Saba Stephanos spent three unforgettable weeks in Xpu-Ha, Mexico, through Ecosystem Field Studies, where she traded the classroom for hands-on marine science through fieldwork, snorkeling, scuba diving, and research.

One of her favorite moments? 🐢 Watching a loggerhead sea turtle come ashore at night to nest.

“This simple yet once-in-a-lifetime experience simply blew me away.”

During the program, Saba also:
🤿 Completed her first discovery scuba dive.
🔬 Researched how sargassum affects water quality in Xpu-Ha Bay.
📑 Collected data to better understand sea turtle nesting habitats.
🏝️ Explored the Yucatán Peninsula’s stunning cenotes.

“I typically completed homework outside…the breeze and salty air always greeted me, and that’s probably what I’ll miss the most about my time in Mexico.”

At UGA Marine Sciences, study abroad is more than travel, it’s hands-on research, immersive learning, and preparing the next generation of ocean scientists to understand and protect our oceans! 🌊🌎

ExperientialLearning

07/02/2026

PhD candidate Maruf Agbaje recently returned from Mombasa, Kenya, where he represented the Department of Marine Sciences at the 11th Our Ocean Conference (OOC11) - the first time this global event has been held on African soil.🌍

Together with Christine Majeni (UGA Geology), and in partnership with the Technical University of Mombasa and the ECOP Kenya Node, Maruf co-organized the side event “Youth Leadership in Ocean Science and Innovation.” Nearly 40 participants, including researchers, government officials, NGO leaders, representatives from the Kenya Ports Authority, and professionals from the judiciary and healthcare sectors, came together around one powerful message: the ocean is everyone’s responsibility.🌊

Maruf presented his doctoral research on carbon and methane cycling in river-dominated coastal systems, connecting processes in the Gulf of Mexico to African deltas. Christine shared her work on groundwater dynamics and compound flooding in vulnerable coastal communities.

The event concluded with an Ocean Commitment Wall, where every participant pledged one personal action to help protect the ocean. Those commitments were submitted to the official OOC11 commitment tracker. A reminder that meaningful change begins with individual action and collective accountability.

We’re proud to see our graduate students helping shape the future of ocean science through research, collaboration, and global leadership. Congratulations, Maruf! 👏👏👏

06/28/2026

The UGA Department of Marine Sciences is excited to launch Connect Abroad - Immerse: Marine Sciences in Mexico (https://Inkd.in/gTCh8P2B), a unique experiential learning opportunity designed specifically for first-year STEM students!

Participants will spend Spring Break with Sara Rivero-Calle exploring some of Mexico’s most remarkable coastal and marine environments while earning academic credit and fulfilling UGA’s Experiential Learning requirement.

Travel alongside fellow first-year students, connect with UGA faculty and staff, and experience hands-on learning beyond the classroom through immersive global experiences designed just for new Dawgs!✈️🎓🌎

Applications close on September 20!🌊

06/22/2026

Evan Shumaker, a third-year Ocean Science student at the UGA Department of Marine Sciences, is spending his summer in Corpus Christi, Texas, participating in a highly competitive Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program at Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi. Working alongside researchers studying coastal ecosystems, Evan is helping investigate how PFAS - commonly known as “forever chemicals” - affect marine life living in bay sediments and what those impacts can reveal about the health of Texas estuaries.

From collecting sediment and water samples in the field to sorting and identifying marine organisms under the microscope, every day brings a new opportunity to explore the science behind healthy coastal ecosystems. 🪱🌊🔬

Through this experience, Evan is gaining hands-on research skills, learning techniques used by professional scientists, and collaborating with students from across the country. We can’t wait to see where this journey takes him next!

💡 Evan’s advice for current and future Ocean Science students: Build connections with faculty whenever possible, whether in Athens or at Skidaway. Conversations, mentorships, and research opportunities may seem small at the time, but they can open doors in unexpected ways. Evan credits the encouragement, support, and recommendation he received from faculty as a key factor in earning his REU position.

Address

325 Sanford Drive
Athens, GA
30602

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+17065427671

Website

http://www.marsci.uga.edu/

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