People

The lab is built on a shared love for the natural world. We combine field expeditions, wet-lab experiments, molecular methods, and computational biology.

Principal investigator

Dr. Sarah K Hu

Assistant Professor

skhu [at] tamu.edu · she/her · cv

I am a microbial ecologist devoted to figuring out what the weird marine microeukaryotes are doing in the ocean. Our work combines field expeditions, wet-lab experiments, molecular methods, and computational biology to address questions about the ecological roles microorganisms play in the ecosystem.

I’m most excited about research in the deep sea, especially biologically rich habitats like hydrothermal vents. I love teaching and mentoring about all things biological oceanography, coding, and more.

Graduate students

Alexis Adams

PhD student

alexis98adams [at] tamu.edu · she/her

My name is Alexis and I am a PhD student here at Texas A&M! With a passion for understanding how ecological interactions impact the world around us I have dedicated myself to studying unicellular eukaryotes and their important role within the deep ocean. When I’m not working you can find me reading or playing my piano. I believe science should be a safe space for all and I am excited to explore the fascinating world of microbes!

Kayla Nedd

PhD student

knedd [at] tamu.edu · she/her

My name is Kayla Nedd. I joined the Hu lab in the summer of 2023 as a PhD student. My research interests are microbial ecology in extreme environments. I would like to understand what allows these microbes to be so well equipped to handle the intense conditions of the deep sea. In 2023, I participated in my first research cruise to Axial Seamount, an underwater volcano, to study protists in deep-sea hydrothermal vents. I am thrilled to delve further into my research and better understand this truly magnificent aspect of our planet.

Hailey Woodward

PhD student

haileymwwd [at] tamu.edu · she/her

My name is Hailey and I am excited to be back at A&M as a PhD student after receiving my Bachelors in Microbiology in 2023. I love all things microbiology, especially marine microbes, what they get up to, and their interactions with other organisms in the ocean over time. As a first-gen, low-income student, I hope to encourage students with a background like mine to pursue science and research! In my free time, I love to read and knit, often at the same time.

HEADSHOT NEEDED
Maria
square crop, ≥600 × 600 px
save as images/headshots/maria.jpg

Maria

Role TBD

TBD

Bio to be added.

HEADSHOT NEEDED
Hana
square crop, ≥600 × 600 px
save as images/headshots/hana.jpg

Hana

Role TBD

TBD

Bio to be added.

Undergraduate researchers

Meagan Sonsel

Research assistant

she/her

Meagan Sonsel graduated with a degree in Environmental Geoscience with a concentration in biosphere, and continues to work in the lab on microbial eukaryotes in the deep sea.