Cassie Marnocha - Assistant Professor of Biology
Microorganisms are the microscopic foundation of biogeochemical cycling. In terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments, microbes are involved in the breakdown, transformation, concentration, (im)mobilization, and precipitation of countless chemical and mineral species. A microbial influence may sound small, but can be so substantial as to be seen on the 'macro' level. The interactions between microbes and the abiotic world have major implications for ecosystems and the environment, the history and evolution of life, and even the search for signs of life elsewhere in our solar system.
At Niagara University, I work with students, colleagues, and collaborators to investigate just a few of these fascinating processes and the microorganisms that carry them out. If you're a student and think you might be interested in research, stop by my office or send me an email.
I also teach Environmental Microbiology (300-level special topics course with a lab) in the Fall semester if you're interested in a hands-on approach to learning more about the field.