Adjunct Professor, Department of Marine Sciences Brian M. Hopkinson holds a Ph.D. in Oceanography (2007) from the University of California, San Diego and a B.S. in Chemistry (2001) from the College of William & Mary. His research spans biological oceanography and climate change, with a focus on the biology and physiology of photosynthetic marine organisms—primarily phytoplankton and corals. His lab investigates how these organisms acquire and process inorganic carbon for photosynthesis and calcification, and how environmental conditions—including rising seawater CO₂ associated with ocean acidification—shape these ecophysiological processes. The Hopkinson Lab studies the ecology and physiology of photosynthetic ocean organisms, emphasizing mechanisms of carbon acquisition and their implications for growth and biogeochemical cycling. Additional topics include iron limitation and acquisition in phytoplankton, photosynthetic physiology, and the ecology of phytoplankton and corals. Selected publications include work on ocean acidification and iron availability to marine phytoplankton (Science, 2010), the efficiency of diatom CO₂-concentrating mechanisms (PNAS, 2011), carbon assimilation in Symbiodinium (Coral Reefs, 2014), and CO₂-concentrating mechanisms in Prochlorococcus (Plant Physiology, 2014). Education: Ph.D. 2007, Oceanography, University of California, San Diego B.S. 2001, Chemistry, The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA Research Research Interests: Biology and physiology of photosynthetic marine organisms (phytoplankton and corals) Inorganic carbon acquisition and processing for photosynthesis and calcification Organismal responses to rising seawater CO₂ / ocean acidification Environmental modulation of carbon-acquisition physiology (ecophysiology) Method development for studying inorganic carbon acquisition Iron limitation of phytoplankton and iron acquisition mechanisms Photosynthetic physiology; ecology of phytoplankton and corals
