Federal Grant Award Summary

Oregon State University received a $462,091 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Ocean Sciences (Geosciences program, CFDA 47.050) effective September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2029. This collaborative research initiative investigates the role of planktic foraminifera in marine snow formation and ocean carbon export. The project delivers scientific research outputs combining laboratory experiments, field-collected specimens from both U.S. coasts, and geochemical analyses to examine how foraminifera aggregate particles and alter their chemical composition. The research aims to improve understanding of ocean carbon cycling mechanisms and the biological carbon pump by evaluating previously unrecognized pathways through which planktic foraminifera influence carbon transport to the deep ocean.

Beyond its core research deliverables, the project provides educational training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students and strengthens connections between academic researchers and coastal communities. The work directly supports the NSF Geosciences program's mandate to advance fundamental knowledge and understanding of integrated Earth systems through basic research in ocean sciences, with particular relevance to marine ecosystem functioning and climate regulation services that benefit American fisheries and coastal economies.