About
Welcome to the Biogeochemical Oceanography Research Group at the University of Rochester, led by Dr. Thomas Weber. We use numerical models to probe the interactions between marine ecosystems, nutrient cycles, and ocean circulation that lead to carbon storage in the deep ocean. Our models are designed to elucidate and quantify poorly understood biogeochemical processes and are guided by large datasets collected at sea and by satellite remote sensing. Our work contributes to a deeper understanding of the Earth System and more robust predictions of global climate change.
Our primary research tool is the Bluehive Cluster – a high performance computational cluster maintained by the Center for Integrated Research Computing at the University of Rochester. We use this facility for storage, processing, and analysis of large datasets, and numerical modeling, and our work employs the MATLAB, C, and Python programming languages.
The group is committed to communicating science to the broader public, in particular our local Rochester community. Dr. Weber has discussed climate change and its impacts on the marine environment on WXXI Public Radio, at local community centers, and at the Rochester Fringe Festival. He also a developed and taught a climate change workshop for students from the Rochester City Schools District through the Upward Bound program.
Join the group!
We are seeking enthusiastic graduate students with a deep interest in ocean biogeochemical cycles and the Earth System to join the Research Group. Potential Ph.D. and M.Sc. projects include: (i) quantifying sources of trace metals to the ocean; (ii) understanding anaerobic processes associated with sinking organic particles; (iii) modeling methane cycling in the global ocean and Great Lakes. Prospective students should contact Dr. Weber directly before applying to the program at the University of Rochester. Research opportunities are also available for highly motivated undergraduate students in the group.