Kelsey McBeain

Biography

Coming from a Navy family, the ocean has always been a draw for me. I received my Bachelors of Science in Biology from New Mexico State University along with minors in biochemistry and music in 2014. There I studied bobtail squid and the bioluminescent bacteria Vibrio fischeri they host in their light organs. My Masters of Science in Microbiology was completed at Oregon State University where I followed the physiological adaptations and limitations of microzooplankton as they fed on various phytoplankton food sources. Now I’m excited to delve into the ecology of archaea and their contributions to the marine nitrogen cycle. I’ve lived in eight other states, and am happy to make California my ninth home!

Research

Microbial cultivation and physiology.