Marine Microbiome | Marine Biological Association

Marine Biological Association Postgraduates sweep awards at prestigious PlyMSEF2025 Conference

May 21, 2025 by Amy Schofield

The Marine Biological Association (MBA) is proud to celebrate the outstanding success of its postgraduate students, who secured an impressive seven awards at the Annual PlyMSEF2025 Postgraduate Student Conference held at Plymouth Marine Laboratory. The conference, organised by the Plymouth Marine Science and Education Foundation (PlyMSEF), brought together early-career researchers from five leading marine institutions … Read more

The Mesolens microscope transforming phytoplankton visualisation

May 15, 2025May 6, 2025 by Caitlin Hodges

The Marine Biological Association’s Microbiome Centre is home to unique and cutting-edge facilities which allow us to explore the cellular processes that shape the unique biology of marine life. Our world class microscopy equipment, including the Mesolens microscope, allow us to study marine organisms at cellular and subcellular resolution—and we’re proud to house one of … Read more

Leading MBA researcher receives prestigious ERC funding award

Dec 3, 2024Dec 3, 2024 by Neri Campbell

A leading researcher from the Marine Biological Association (MBA) has received a significant funding boost from the European Research Council (ERC). NERC Independent Research Fellow Dr Katherine Helliwell who holds a joint appointment at the MBA and University of Exeter will lead on a €2,299,893 award for the project DIACIDAL, which examines interactions between phytoplankton … Read more

New research reveals the evolutionary history of brown seaweeds

Dec 2, 2024 by Neri Campbell

A new study has shed light on the evolution of underwater forests, which play a crucial role in capturing and storing carbon dioxide and the resilience of coastal ecosystems. An international team of researchers, led by the CNRS and the CEA and funded by the program “France Génomique”, has analysed 60 new genomes of brown … Read more

New funding will empower the next generation of marine biology researchers

Nov 20, 2024 by Neri Campbell

Major funding has been allocated to support the next generation of biology and environmental researchers. The investment of more than £500 million from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will support doctoral students to develop their skills and experience across biological sciences, engineering and physical sciences and natural and environmental sciences. The Marine Biological Association (MBA) … Read more

Soapbox Science: Shedding light on the fascinating world of algae and algae blooms

Jun 27, 2024 by Neri Campbell

A Marine Biological Association (MBA) researcher captivated audiences with her insightful presentation on the topic of algae and algal blooms at the popular Soapbox Science series. Soapbox Science is a public outreach event aiming to showcase the research of women and non-binary scientists who are making significant contributions to the scientific community. Held on Saturday … Read more

140 Years: Polar expeditions past and present

Nov 7, 2024May 30, 2024 by Neri Campbell

The Marine Biological Association (MBA) has been famously linked with three historic Antarctic expeditions, Discovery (1901 to 1904), Terra Nova (1910) and the ill-fated Endurance from 1914 to 1917. In 2021, MBA marine biologists yet again took part in an important polar expedition. Dr Kimberley Bird and Dr Birthe Zäncker joined the Synoptic Arctic Survey … Read more

New MBA Fellows Announced

Nov 7, 2024May 23, 2024 by Neri Campbell

The Marine Biological Association (MBA) is delighted to announce the appointment of two new Fellows. MBA Fellows are senior practitioners in marine biology who have contributed to the discipline at the highest level. The status of Fellow of the MBA is awarded in recognition of distinguished and long-term contributions to marine biology at the highest … Read more

Celebrating 25 years of research into the origins of vitamin C in plants

May 13, 2024 by Neri Campbell

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient in the human diet and it has been long known that plants are an excellent source of this important antioxidant. Prolonged absence of vitamin C in the diet leads to scurvy, a disease prevalent amongst early marine explorers who had little access to fresh fruit and vegetables. The biosynthetic … Read more

Advancing marine biology research through collaboration

Apr 25, 2024 by Neri Campbell

The Marine Biological Association (MBA) recently hosted a collaborative meeting with researchers from the University of Exeter (UoE) to foster a deeper partnership between the two institutes. This gathering provided a great opportunity for scientists from both organisations to share their current research projects and explore potential areas for future collaboration in the field of … Read more

View our webcam