Two Bigelow Scientists Recognized for Leadership

The scientific community recognized two Bigelow Laboratory scientists this summer as emerging scientific leaders.

Senior Research Scientist Christoph Aeppli is an environmental chemist studying processes that determine the effect and fate of oil after marine spills. He was awarded one of 10 Early Career Research Fellowships by the Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. These fellowships support emerging scientists as they take risks on research ideas not yet tested, pursue unique collaborations, and build networks of colleagues who share their interest in the well-being of coastal communities and ecosystems. The fellowships last two years and provide funding and mentorship to help recipients navigate their professional development.

Aeppli earned his master’s in chemistry from the University of Berne, Switzerland, and his doctorate in environmental chemistry from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. He was previously awarded postdoctoral fellowships from the Swiss National Science Foundation and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

Research Scientist Nicole Poulton is a phytoplankton ecologist and director of the Center for Aquatic Cytometry at Bigelow Laboratory. She was named one of 10 Shared Resource Lab Emerging Leaders by the International Society for Advancement of Cytometry. This five-year career and leadership development program provides opportunities for valuable training, development, and mentoring activities.

Poulton earned her bachelor’s degrees in biology and chemistry from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and her doctorate in biological oceanography from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Her research focuses on the role that phytoplankton community structure has on particulate organic carbon, a key player in the global carbon cycle. She also directs the Keller BLOOM student program and co-directs the BLOOM Educators program at Bigelow Laboratory.

“Chris and Nicole are exceptional examples to all of us at Bigelow Laboratory and to the broader scientific community,” said Ben Twining, interim executive director. “We’re proud to see both of them being recognized at the national and international levels for their achievements and their potential.”