Peter Girguis

Peter Girguis is a Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University and an Adjunct Oceanographer in Applied Ocean Engineering and Physics at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. His research examines the relationship between organismal ecology, physiology, and biogeochemical cycles employing a variety of tools from genomics to biogeochemical measurements. Dr. Girguis and his lab also develops novel methods and technologies to explore marine environments, such as underwater mass spectrometers, underwater microbial fuel cells, and deep sea autonomous laboratories. In order to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in the sciences, Dr. Girguis has co-founded a high-school marine science internship program at Harvard, leads DEI efforts in ocean sciences in the U.S. and abroad, and works closely with United Nations delegates to promote democratization of ocean sciences around the world.

Dr. Girguis received his B.S. from the University of California, Los Angeles and his Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He carried out postdoctoral research at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute with Dr. Edward Delong on the growth and population dynamics of anaerobic methanotrophs. Dr. Girguis has received numerous awards, including the Petra Shattuck Excellence in Teaching award from Harvard University and Lowell Thomas Award for groundbreaking advances in Marine Science and Technology. In 2020, he was named a Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Investigator for his research on marine symbioses. Dr. Girguis currently serves as a board member of the Ocean Exploration Trust and the Schmidt Marine Technology Partners, among other consortia across the international science community.

Visit the Girguis Lab website for more information about their work.

“I’m honored and delighted to be a part of this effort. The ocean may well be Earth’s most complex feature. Even after centuries of ocean science and exploration, we have much to learn about the ocean system, including its role in Earth’s biogeochemical cycles. I am hopeful that we, as a community, can revolutionize how we study ocean biogeochemical processes, for the health and well-being of our planet and all of humankind.”