Eric Wirthlin

Title: Graduate Research Assistant
Affiliation: Division of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences
Location: DRI Reno
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone: 775.673.7634

Professional Interests

Eric is interested in all things algae – ecophysiology, cell and molecular biology, evolution, taxonomy, etc. Eric’s research in the Systems Microbial Ecology Laboratory has included algal ecology of various systems including Antarctic sea ice and Nevadan rivers and lakes, nutrient-uptake assays, isolation and culturing of algal strains and investigations into geothermal-based algal biofuels. Of particular interest are scenarios wherein algal ecology and biology have far-reaching implications. Examples of this are Antarctic sea ice algae as a foundation of the Antarctic biosphere at higher trophic levels as its currently recognized; the stalk-forming diatom Didymosphenia geminata and its proliferative growth in many streams globally, altering benthic habitat; toxin-producing algae; and applications of algae such as biofuel production, nanotechnology and biotechnology.

Eric is working towards more fully understanding systems ecology and hopes to apply and further his cell and molecular biology education from his undergraduate coursework to investigate questions related to global system changes, applied algal ecology/biotechnology and resource management.

Research Areas of Interest and Expertise

• Diatom carbon acquisition and fixation
• Diatom life stages
• Kleptoplasty
• Genomics
• Plants
• Parasites