Batoul sailed on the NSF research vessel Sikuliaq on a two-week-long expedition in the Gulf of Alaska this June. The goals of this expedition were to: (1) understand how iron is stored and mobilized in glaciated and non-glaciated coastal regions and its effect on nutrient and carbon cycling in the Gulf of Alaska, and (2) understand enzyme stability in microbial communities living in deep subsurface sediments. Batoul’s interests lie in understanding barium cycling in these marginal environments, and she will investigate this as part of her dissertation work. 

Batoul spent long days under the midnight sun collecting mud using jumbo piston corers, gravity corers, and multicorers with distant glaciers on the horizon and occasional sightings of whales and seals! These samples were brought on deck for porewater analysis and future geochemical measurements. Batoul was invited to join this cruise based on her research interest and previous experience aboard the R/V Atlantis. 

Thank you to co-chief scientists Dr. Allie Tessin and Dr. Drew Steen for welcoming Batoul on board and to Friends of Orton Hall for supporting her travel to Alaska!