This National Science Foundation (NSF) Project Grant award under the Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050) provides $335,126 to Wake Forest University to conduct collaborative research on assessing bacterioplankton as sources of vitamin B1 and related compounds in the surface ocean. The key objectives are to: 1) quantify the release of vitamin B1 and similar compounds by key bacterioplankton taxa, including the impact of temperature changes, 2) determine if viral infection and lysis of bacterioplankton result in unique fluxes of these vitamins, and 3) use the data to estimate in-situ vitamin B1 fluxes in the surface ocean. This research aims to improve understanding of factors controlling plankton stocks and activity, which are crucial for predicting ecosystem health and productivity. The project also supports the interdisciplinary training of two PhD students and undergraduate research interns from underrepresented groups, as well as the development of educational curriculum on marine plankton for middle and high school students.