Graduate Student
L. Alex Kahl - Research
Rutgers University
Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences
71 Dudley Rd.
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
tel: +1 732 932 6555
alex-at-marine.rutgers.edu
My scientific career started when I was an undergraduate working for Dr. Dave Siegel at UCSB's Institute for Computational Earth Systems Science. As an undergraduate my research focused on managing and optimizing the collection and storage of satellite data. After beginning graduate school at Rutgers University's Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, I was drawn away from remote sensing by the mysteries of carbon biogeochemistry. My current work is focused on the biological - physical interface of carbon dynamics. The three chapters of my PhD. dissertation are focused on addressing the follwing questions.
- How does phytoplankton health affect carbon sequestration?
- What differences in the chemistry of phytoplankton exudate cause variability in phytoplankton aggregation?
- How and why do phytoplankton cells exude organic carbon?
In addition to furthering our understanding of the ocean's carbon dynamics I have pursued a few other academic interests at Rutgers. These interests include
- Deployment and recovery of autonomous under-water vehicles
- Taking several course in paleoclimate and climate change
- Helping to establish the website for the Rutgers Energy Institute
- Taking Arabic language courses