Dr. Susanna Theroux
Dr. Susanna Theroux is an ecologist specializing in microbiology and bioassessment, specifically the interactions between microbial communities and nutrient stressors. She specializes in the use of high-throughput DNA sequencing to untangle microbial interactions, from nutrient food webs and carbon cycling to novel species characterization. Her research focuses on the development of molecular methods (next-generation DNA and RNA sequencing) for bioassessment, with a special focus on microbial community response to anthropogenic disturbance and the use of algal assemblages as indicators of environmental degradation. She has worked in a range of aquatic systems with a special focus on photosynthetic microalgae as sentinels of anthropogenic disturbance and climate change
She received her B.A. in biology and geology from Williams College in 2005, and M.S. and Ph.D. in geological sciences from Brown University in 2009 and 2012, respectively. She joined SCCWRP in 2016.
Education
Ph.D., Geological Sciences, Brown University, 2012
M.S., Geological Sciences, Brown University, 2009 B.A., Biology and Geology, Williams College, 2005
Professional Experience
Senior Scientist, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority. Costa Mesa, CA. 2020-present.
Scientist, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority. Costa Mesa, CA. 2016-2019.
Computational biology postdoctoral fellow, DOE Joint Genome Institute. Walnut Creek, CA. 2012-2015.
Graduate research assistant, Brown University Department of Geological Sciences. Providence, RI. 2007-2012.
Research technician, Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory. Woods Hole, MA. 2005-2007.
Honors and Awards
DOE Joint Genome Institute Director’s Discretion Proposal, 2014.
American Association of University Women (AAUW) Dissertation Fellowship, 2011.
Geological Society of America (GSA) Student Research Grant, 2010.
Brown-MBL Graduate Fellowship, Brown University, 2007-2009.
Professor Jack L. Strominger Graduate Fellowship, Brown University, 2008.
Professional Societies and Certifications
American Association of University Women (AAUW).
Earth Science Women’s Network (ESWN).
Sigma XI Scientific Research Society.
International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME).
Phycological Society of America (PSA).
Selected Presentations and Conference Proceedings
Theroux, S. Mazor, R., Stein, E. 2019. Incorporating molecular ecology tools into coastal and estuarine monitoring programs. Paper presented at the Coastal & Estuarine Research Federation annual meeting. Mobile, AL.
Theroux, S. 2019. Efforts to standardize molecular approaches to bioassessment in California and beyond. Paper presented at the COST Action CA15219 ('DNAqua-Net') Meeting, Limassol, Cyprus.
Theroux, S., Vasselon, V., Bouchez, A., Stein, E. 2019. Effect of bioinformatic pipeline on bioassessment index performance. International Barcode of Life (iBoL) conference. Trondheim, Norway.
Theroux, S., Steele, J., Griffith, J., Stein, E. 2019. A tale of two taxonomies: comparing morpho- and molecular taxonomy for stream algal bioassessment. Paper presented at the Society for Freshwater Science (SFS) Annual Conference. Salt Lake City, UT.
Theroux, S., Mazor, R., Stein, E., Sutula, M. 2017. A DNA-based approach for stream algal bioassessment: a case study in Southern California. Paper presented at the Phycological Society of America Annual Meeting. Monterey Bay, CA.
Theroux, S. 2017. A High-Throughput DNA Sequencing Approach to Algae Monitoring Allows for Enhanced Bioassessment. Paper presented at the Southern California SETAC Annual Conference. Dana Point, CA.
Theroux, S. Hartman, W., Tringe, S. 2015. Marsh madness: Microbial Communities Driving Greenhouse Gas Cycling in Coastal Wetlands. Paper presented at the Genomics of Energy & Environment. Walnut Creek, CA.
Theroux, S. Hartman, W., He, S., Windham-Myers, L., Tringe, S. 2014. Microbial diversity and carbon cycling in San Francisco Bay wetlands. Paper presented at the Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting. Portland, OR.
Theroux, S. Huang, Y., Amaral-Zettler, L. 2012. Haptophyte DNA and Alkenone Signatures During a Spring Algal Bloom Event in Lake George, ND, USA. Paper presented at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. San Francisco, CA.