Chemical Research

We collect marine algae and cyanobacteria using a variety of shallow water techniques, including SCUBA, snorkeling, and reef walking. In recent years, we have focused on the collection of marine cyanobacteria from tropical locations, including Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Madagascar, Curaçao, Panama and Puerto Rico. Algal samples are both preserved for chemical studies and collected for growth in the lab. Recent efforts aimed at a genetic understanding of how some of these exotic molecules are produced require in-field DNA isolation and preservation for subsequent laboratory investigation and manipulation.