Shuting Liu
Biography
I grew up in Nanjing, a city with long-lasting history and amazing natural landscape in China. I received my B.S. degree in Environmental Science from Nanjing University, China, where I developed my interest in aquatic science. Then I obtained my Ph.D. degree in the Marine Science Institute at The University of Texas at Austin, focusing on organic geochemistry in coastal studies. I did my postdoc in the Marine Science Institute at University of California Santa Barbara, conducting research on microbial oceanography. And I joined Kean as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental & Sustainability Sciences afterwards.
My research work specifically focuses on microbial degradation and transformation of dissolved organic matter in seawater, which is a fundamental field to understand carbon and nitrogen cycle, microbial ecology and marine ecosystem processes. I have been on many research cruises to the northern Gulf of Mexico, North Atlantic Ocean, and Sargasso Sea. I use analytical instruments such as spectrophotometer, High Performance Liquid Chromatography, and High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry to chemically characterize dissolved organic matter compounds including peptides and amino acids in seawater, and apply microscopic and molecular techniques to evaluate changes of microbial biomass and community structure. Through examining interactions among different microbial organisms and between microbes and dissolved organic matter, I seek to understand mechanisms governing ecosystem dynamics, assess current environmental problems and provide scientific evidence for future predictions. Since I joined Kean, I am working on water quality assessment and algae-bacteria interactions along the New Jersey coasts.
I enjoy hiking and sightseeing for fun. I believe knowledge comes from not only reading books, but also life and nature travelling.