University of South Carolina

Peng Lab in Marine Microbial Ecology


Welcome to the Marine Microbial Ecology Lab at the School of Earth, Ocean and Environment, University of South Carolina.



Microorganisms (bacteria, archaea, fungi, and protists) form complex relationships among themselves and play an important role in shaping the physical environment in which they (and we) dwell. On the other hand, environmental variables such as light, temperature, and nutrients determine the composition, abundance, and "well-being" of microbial communities. To gain insights into the interplay between the biotic and abiotic parts of the earth, I employ and develop laboratory (e.g. mass spectrometry, microbial cultivation), field sampling (e.g. open ocean, estuaries), and computational (e.g. bioinformatics, numeric modeling) methods.



News and Updates

2023.11.1: We are recruiting graduate students! Interested individuals are encouraged to contact PI Peng at xpeng@seoe.sc.edu before submitting an application.

2023.4.29: The Peng Lab concluded the first year of a partnership with the ZooTeens Conservation Team program at the Riverbanks Zoo by leading a field trip for 30 youth participants to the Baruch Marine Field Lab and the NOAA Educational Salt Marsh Boardwalk in Georgetown, SC. Special thanks to Beth Thomas for her guidance!

2023.3.15: Congratulations to Margaret Bernish for defending her Master's thesis! Best wishes for her next adventure as a Ph.D. student at the Gradaute School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island!

2022.11.21: Congratulations to Liam Kellogg for receiving the Magellan Journey award for early researchers!

2022.9.10: Congratulations to Birch Lazo-Murphy for winning the Sonoma County Mycological Association Graduate Fellowship!

2022.8.3: Congratulations to Lily Bosch for receiving the Magellan Journey award for early researchers!

2022.4.28: Congratulations to Dylan Lane for winning the First Place Poster Presentation Award at Discover UofSC!

2022.4.27: Congratulations to Dylan Lane for defending his Honors Thesis!

2022.4.22: Congratulations to Dylan Lane for presenting his Honors Thesis at Discover UofSC today!

2022.4.15: Congratulations to Sydney Staines for receiving the Magellan Journey award for early researchers!

2022.4.4: Congratulations to Sydney Staines for receiving the Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship (NOAA)!