Brent M. Robicheau
Post Doctoral Scholar
Lasry Building for Bioscience – Room 255
Office Phone: 508-793-7622
brobicheau@clarku.edu
Brent Robicheau is an environmental microbiologist and geneticist, who’s research interests include the genetics and genomics of coastal organisms, as well as the biodiversity of marine microbes and marine viruses.
Brent has expertise in the mitochondrial genomics of bivalves and fungal endophytes, as well as the characterization of marine microbial communities across both spatial and temporal scales (for e.g., fungi, archaea, heterotrophic bacteria, and phytoplankton). His past research has also included work on the fascinating nitrogen-fixing algal symbiont known as UCYN-A, which is globally distributed across the world’s ocean. More generally, Brent’s research is aimed at furthering our understanding of the complex community dynamics exhibited by microorganisms living in the marine realm. Exploring marine microbial communities is important. For example, studies on this topic have the potential to help us gain insight into the biogeography of marine microbes, to identify novel marine microbial interactions, and to help us further resolve the impact that various microbe groups can have within the marine environment (for e.g., the fixation and cycling of carbon and nitrogen).
Another important group influencing microbial life in the marine realm are marine viruses. For his post-doctoral research, Brent is working in the lab of Dr. Nathan Ahlgren, where he is studying the genetics of viral host-range within Synechococcus—a key marine phytoplankton group.
You can read more about Brent’s past research here: Bedford Basin Perfect to Monitor Coastal Climate Change
A current list of publications can be found here: Brent M. Robicheau Google Scholar
Degrees & Training
PhD in Biology, Dalhousie University (J. LaRoche Lab), NS, Canada, 2023
ECO Canada Internship, Acadia University (A.K. Walker Lab), NS, Canada, 2016
MSc in Biology, Acadia University (D.T. Stewart Lab), NS, Canada, 2016
BScH in Biology, Acadia University (M. Snyder Lab), NS, Canada, 2013