A warm welcome to USC Fuhrman Group graduate student Daria Di Blasi who recently joined CBIOMES.
by Helen Hill for CBIOMES
HH: In summary, what are your research interests?
DD-B: I am interested in studying the ecological role that marine RNA viruses – predominantly thought to infect microalgae and other marine microbial eukaryotes – play in microbial community dynamics. More specifically, I am interested in better understanding the extent of RNA viral- mediated mortality of blooms which has consequences for carbon export in the world’s oceans. I am also interested in working to develop better methods for quantifying taxon biomass from molecular data.
HH: What are you currently working on?
DD-B: I joined the Fuhrman lab in August of 2022 and have since been working on a project aimed at developing a method to quantify taxon-specific microbial biomass from sequenced seawater samples. The approach we have been working to develop will be useful for improving ocean-system models.
HH: What is your educational background (BS, MS?)
D-DB: I have a BS from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). I am currently working towards a PhD degree from the University of Southern California (USC).
Story image: Di Blasi says “In my spare time I love doing anything outdoors, especially rock climbing and swimming in the ocean.”