Department of Natural Sciences, Baruch College, City University of New York
We study the products of photosynthesis and how they affect natural environments, in both ancient and modern ecosystems. Our undergraduate researchers use biogeochemical tools to follow carbon through microbial communities grown in the lab and sampled from the field. We collaborate with the Microbial Evolution and Biogeochemistry Lab at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University and the Hudson River Park Trust’s River Project.
Photosynthetic microbes divide the carbon they take up among proteins, lipids, and sugars, and release some of it back into the environment. We grow marine phytoplankton and cyanobacteria under controlled conditions to learn how these choices shift their carbon isotope signal, which underlies a proxy for past atmospheric CO2.
Microbial biofilms coat underwater surfaces and are thought to help young oysters attach and grow. With the Hudson River Park Trust’s River Project, we study the biofilms on miniature reef balls beside the Gansevoort salt marsh to learn why seeded oysters persist better in some settings than others.
Assistant Professor of Environmental Science, Baruch College, CUNY
Dr. Gonzalez-Nayeck founded the lab after joining Baruch in 2023, and uses carbon stable isotopes and microbial community composition to read environmental conditions in ancient and modern ecosystems.
The lab is currently taking only 2–4 independent study students for Spring 2027. You can express interest in future semesters or a senior thesis using the interest form on the Join the Lab page.
Hudson River Park Trust · Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University · CUNY Advanced Science Research Center · PSC-CUNY. Meet our collaborators →