Jess Boulton

Jess comes to GMGI from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a background in marine microbiology. Her research interests include the genetic diversity and functional potential of marine microbes, as well as the roles that microbes play in large-scale biogeochemical processes in the ocean. She earned a B.S. in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As an undergraduate, she investigated changes in coral protein abundance in response to changing pCO2 levels. After graduation she was employed as a research technician and lab manager at UNC-CH, where she isolated environmental bacteria from lakes and estuaries. She then earned her M.S. in Marine Science from UNC-Chapel Hill. Her thesis project focused on identifying transcriptional markers of specific carbon substrate consumption in continuous Roseobacter cultures, in order to better understand how heterotrophic bacteria affect marine carbon cycling. Jess also enjoys kayaking, hiking, and baking.