Page 4 - 2025 Impact Report

BEN DANIELS
OSU College of Science, Microbiology
The ARCS Foundation Oregon Chapter Scholar
My research explores how marine microbes drive
carbon cycling in the ocean, especially under
changing environmental conditions and
when impacted by human activities.
In particular, I study how different forms of
dissolved organic compounds vary in their
stability, and how this influences the long-term
storage and sequestration of carbon in the ocean.
Low-oxygen environments off the coast of
Oregon have the potential to store carbon in the
ocean. By studying how microbes metabolize
carbon and use oxygen under these conditions,
we can improve our ability to predict how
carbon sequestration and climate will change in
the future.
My fascination with nature and biology first
drew me into science, and I have always
been captivated by the remarkable ways
organisms adapt to their environments. This
curiosity has grown into a deeper commitment
to pursue research that explores these
processes and addresses the urgent challenges
of climate change. I am motivated by a strong
desire to help protect and preserve our natural
environments, to find solutions, and advance our
role as responsible stewards of the planet.
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“I am motivated
by a strong desire
to help protect and
preserve our natural
environments...”