Jacob Cram

Jacob Cram is an assistant professor at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. He focuses on global ocean cycles and the role of microorganisms, such as bacteria, archaea, and microeukaryotes, in these cycles. He uses molecular analyses such as DNA sequencing to study these microbes in the ocean and also conducts computer simulations to better understand ocean processes.
Recently, Cram has been studying bacteria that live on tiny particles in the ocean and investigating how they affect processes like the global carbon cycle. He is particularly interested in areas of the ocean and coastal estuaries where there is no oxygen, as the microorganisms in these areas have to use alternative chemicals to “breathe” and thus cause unique chemical transformations.
Cram is also interested in bacteria that associate with and impact the health of animals such as oysters and humans.