Julie Huber, PhD
Scientist, ocean explorer, storyteller
Image Credit: NOAA Ocean Exploration
Image Credit: NOAA Ocean Exploration
Microbes in the Dark
Water-rock reactions at and below the seafloor support a diverse biosphere of microscopic life in the deep ocean. I use geochemical, microbiological, and molecular biological tools to study the who, what, where & how of these fascinating life forms.
Seafloor Exploration
I work in diverse geological settings around the world, including hydrothermal vents, mid-ocean ridges, hot spot and arc volcanoes, mud volcanoes, seamounts and oceanic crust. I use advanced submergence technology to discover and study these environments.
Astrobiology & Ocean Worlds
I apply my expertise from ocean research and exploration to help inform the search for life on planetary bodies beyond Earth. The strategies that we as oceanographers use to explore, sample, and study the deep ocean are directly relevant for future NASA missions.
Humans & the Deep Sea
There are emergent human uses of the deep sea in the form of mining and carbon sequestration that will alter this environment. I am working to inform policies relating to these uses, decrease the likelihood of serious harm, and maintain ecosystem services for the benefit of society.
Image Credit: NOAA Ocean Exploration
Image Credit: NASA
Image Credit: Orcutt et al. 2020