About
Prof. Phyllis Lam is Professor of Microbial Biogeochemistry within the Marine Biogeochemistry Research Group, in the School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton.
Research
Research groups
Research interests
- Prof. Lam's research interest lies in the functional roles of microorganisms in biogeochemical cycling, particularly the nitrogen and carbon cycles, in diverse marine and aquatic systems. In collaboration with researchers inside and outside the university, her work integrates state-of-the-art molecular ecological techniques, stable isotopic analyses, process rate measurements, hypothesis-driven experimentation and modelling, to disentangle complex microbial interactions and their impacts on biogeochemical environments especially in the context of global change.
- Current research topics include:
- Shortcuts in the nitrogen cycle – novel pathways and microbial players for nitrogen remineralisation in the ocean’s twilight zoneMicrobial carbon remineralisation pathways and fluxes in the mesopelagic oceanUsing proteomics tools to disentangle active microbial nitrogen and carbon cycling processes in oceanic oxygen minimum zonesImportance of particle-associated microeukaryotes on the efficiency of oceanic biological carbon pumpMicrobial production and consumption pathways of greenhouse gases
Research projects
Active projects
Completed projects
Publications
Biography
Professor of Microbial Biogeochemistry, School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton (2024-present)
Head of Marine Biogeochemistry Research Group, School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton (2020-present)
Head of Environmental Geonomics Sequencing Facility, University of Southampton (2021-present)
Associate Professor of Microbial Biogeochemistry, University of Southampton (2016-2024)
Lecturer in Marine Microbial Biogeochemistry, University of Southampton (2013-2016)
Research Scientist, Department of Biogeochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology (2006-2013)
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Nutrient Group, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology (2005-2006)
PhD Oceanography, University of Hawai'i at Mãnoa (2004)
BSc Oceanography with Marine Biology, University of Southampton (1998)