Alyssa Alsante
Research
- Biological Oceanography
- Marine sources of atmospheric ice nucleating particles
My research focuses on the impact of marine phytoplankton and viruses on atmospheric ice nucleation in laboratory measurements. Biological productivity in the ocean can contribute to aerosol particles in the atmosphere that can act as ice nucleating particles, catalyzing the formation of ice containing clouds. Our goal is to gain a better understanding of what processes and conditions affect the abundance and production of effective atmospheric ice nucleating particles from biological sources in the ocean.
Selected Publications
Alsante AN, Thornton DCO, Brooks SD. Ocean aerobiology. (2021). Frontiers in Marine Science. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.764178.
Gold-Bouchot G, Polis S, Castanon LE, Padilla M, Alsante. AN, Thornton DCO (2021). Impact of Hurricane Harvey on Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM in a subtropical estuary. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-14509-x.
Hendrickson BN, Brooks SD, Thornton DCO, Moore RH, Crosbie E, Ziemba LD, Carlson CA, Baetge B, Mirrielees JA, Alsante AN (2021). Role of Sea Surface Microlayer Properties in Cloud Formation. Frontiers in Marine Science. 7, 1-20. DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2020.596225.
Coy SR, Alsante AN, Van Etten, JL, Wilhelm SW (2019). Cryopreservation of Paramecium bursaria Chlorella Virus-1 during an active infection cycle of its host. PloS ONE. 14(3). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211755.
Education
Ph.D. Oceanography, Texas A&M University, 2017 – current
B.S. Microbiology, The University of Tennessee, 2017
Awards
2020 – 2021, 2022 – 2023: Cary N. Smith ’34 Memorial Scholarship, Texas A&M University
2017 – 2023: Louis and Elizabeth Scherck Scholarship, Dept. of Oceanography
2021-2022: M.T. Halbouty ‘30/AAPG Foundation Endowed Fellowship, College of Geosciences
2021-2022: UNOCL Graduate Fellowship, College of Geosciences
2021-2022: Claude Scruggs Scholarship, Texas A&M University
2021-2022: CIRTL Teaching as Research Fellow, Texas A&M University
2021: The Wormuth Memorial Award for Graduate Student Teaching, Dept. of Oceanography
2021: CIRTL Fellow of the Academy for Future Faculty, Texas A&M University
2020: Dr. Soren and Victoria ’12 Jorden Endowed Aggie Ring Scholarship, Texas A&M University
2021: Oceanography Graduate Council Research Award, Dept. of Oceanography
2020: Oceanography Graduate Council Travel Award, Dept. of Oceanography
2020 & 2021: NSF S-STEM Scholar, Dept. of Oceanography
2019: NASA Group Achievement Award to North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystem Study Team
2019 – 2021: Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth P. Pipes Endowed Fellowship, College of Geosciences
Courses
OCNG 420, Biological Oceanography Lab
OCNG 252, Introduction to Oceanography Lab
Additional Information
Advisor: Dr. Daniel Thornton and Dr. Sarah Brooks
Selected Presentations (* indicates presenter)
*Alsante AN, Thornton DCO, and Brooks SD (2021). Determining the composition of ice nucleating particles from marine phytoplankton. Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University. Departmental Seminar Presentation.
*Alsante AN, Thornton DCO, and Brooks SD (2021). Determining the composition of ice nucleating particles from marine phytoplankton. The American Association for Aerosol Research 39th Annual Meeting. Platform Presentation.
*Alsante AN, Brooks SD, Thornton DCO, Mirrielees J, Wilbourn EK, Hendrickson BN, Diaz B, and Bidle KD (2020). Atmospheric ice nucleation of the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi and an associated virus. 3rd Atmospheric Ice Nucleation Conference. Poster Presentation.
*Alsante AN, Mirrielees J, Thornton DCO, Wilbourn EK, Doyle SM, Brooks SD, and Sylvan JB (2019). Phytoplankton organic matter and associated heterotrophic bacteria as a source of marine aerosol. American Geophysical Union Virtual Poster Showcase. Poster Presentation.
Field Work:
June 2019 (1 day): R/V Trident. Hurricane Harvey and Galveston Bay Research. Galveston Bay, TX.
June 2019 (2 days): R/V Rockport. Freshwater endmembers Sampling. Galveston, TX.
March 2019 (1 day): R/V Trident. Hurricane Harvey and Galveston Bay Research. Galveston Bay, TX.
November 2018 (1 day): R/V Trident. Hurricane Harvey and Galveston Bay Research. Galveston Bay, TX.
September 2018 (1 day): R/V Trident. Hurricane Harvey and Galveston Bay Research. Galveston Bay, TX.
March – April 2018 (25 days): R/V Atlantis. North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study (NAAMES). North Atlantic Ocean.
November 2017 (1 day): R/V Trident. Hurricane Harvey and Galveston Bay Research. Galveston Bay, TX.
