Susan Garcia is originally from San Diego, California, and completed her undergraduate degree in Biology and Chemistry at Brandeis University. She is now pursuing her Ph.D. in the School of Oceanography at the University of Washington, where she works in the Ingalls Lab studying marine microbial metabolomics.Susan’s research focuses on how phytoplankton like Thalassiosira spp. produce and exude small polar metabolites into the surrounding seawater. These metabolites serve as important substrates for microbial communities and contribute to key carbon and nitrogen cycling processes. She uses a combination of laboratory-based culture experiments, targeted metabolomics, and field sampling to investigate the production and fate of dissolved organic matter in the ocean. Her favorite part of research at sea is meeting and living alongside the science party and crew—forming new friendships through collaborative work, long days of sampling, and shared meals. Outside of research, Susan is an active advocate for graduate student support and community-building. She has served as president of ARGO (Academic and Recreational Graduate Oceanographers) and organizes the Graduate Application Mentorship Program (GAMP), which provides mentorship and resources to students from underrepresented backgrounds interested in oceanography.
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