Chemistry & Molecular Ecology

UMCES scientists are using cutting-edge chemical and genomic tools to explore environmental health at the molecular level. They are at the forefront of the field, developing and using novel techniques to track the movement of nutrients and pollutants through ecosystems, assess toxicological impacts of natural and human produced chemicals, and they employ molecular techniques, such as DNA barcoding and genome sequencing, to identify changes in biological diversity, metabolic capacity, and ecosystem services.

This research bridges the gap between chemistry and biology, offering deep insights into how organisms interact with their environment and how stressors impact the fundamental building blocks of life.