Collaboration That Catalyzes Discovery: Inside BIOS-SCOPE’s Role in Launching Ocean Science Careers

Microbes that power ocean nutrient and carbon cycles were once poorly understood, but global efforts like BIOS-SCOPE are bringing scientists together to study their critical roles.

Over the past decade, the field of marine science has grown significantly, driven by the urgent need to understand how the ocean functions. Much of this growth has been fueled by discoveries about the tiny microbes that populate our seas, which collectively dictate the flow of nutrients, energy and carbon, yet until recently, these processes remained poorly understood. International programs such as BIOS-SCOPE have emerged as a transformative hub of discovery, bringing together scientists from around the world to tackle pressing questions and push the frontiers of ocean science.

BIOS-SCOPE explores how the collective metabolism of marine microbes drives the movement of nutrients, energy, and carbon through the Atlantic Ocean. Though microscopic, these organisms drive the biogeochemistry of the ocean, influencing everything from the formation of marine ecosystems to climate regulation. Understanding these processes requires interdisciplinary research that spans expertise in marine chemistry, molecular microbiology, ocean biogeochemistry, microbial and zooplankton ecology. 

Founded in 2015 by adjunct scientists Craig Carlson and Steve Giovannoni, of the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, together with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) scientist Liz Kujawinski, BIOS-SCOPE grew out of research based at the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS), one of the longest-running oceanographic biogeochemical datasets. With support from the Simons Foundation International BIOS-SCOPE has expanded into an international collaborative network tackling increasingly complex questions in microbial oceanography and organic biogeochemistry.  The investigative leads include Craig Carlson (University of California, Santa Barbara and ASU BIOS), Steve Giovannoni (Oregon State University (OSU)), Liz Kujawinski (WHOI), Hilary Close (U Miami), Ferde Helweger (Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin)), Ben Temperton (Exeter University), Alexandra Worden (Marine Biological Laboratory, WHOI), Amy Maas, Leo Blanco-Bercial and Rachel Parsons (ASU BIOS).

BIOS-SCOPE operates with a truly global reach and a dynamic, think-tank style environment. It brings together leading international experts that foster scientific exchange and idea-driven collaboration that has directly led to new discoveries and advancements. Collaboration is central to BIOS-SCOPE. Through virtual meetings, annual workshops, and intensive four-day cruises, researchers work side by side to plan, collect, and analyze data. 

Over its first decade, BIOS-SCOPE has propelled the careers of dozens of young scientists. According to Carlson, “PhD students like Jacqui Comstock, Fabian Wittmers and Lillian Henderson have used BIOS-SCOPE data to make groundbreaking discoveries that range from microbial colonization of marine particles, the symbiotic relationships between predatory protists and marine bacteria, to the carbon isotope composition of phytoplankton communities.” Moreover, many students transition between labs and institutions, supported by BIOS-SCOPE’s shared resources, mentoring, and leadership, which deepens scientific expertise and helps train the next generation of ocean scientists.

“The strength of BIOS-SCOPE is that everyone is doing something different,” says Lillian Henderson. “A lot of the time, other people’s data can provide context and be very helpful in interpreting your own data.” Similarly, Fabian Wittmers noted that collaboration allows scientists to ask bigger, more creative questions than they could alone.

Modern oceanography isn’t done in isolation, and BIOS-SCOPE shows how effective true team-based research can be. Over four-day research cruises, students and scientists work tirelessly collecting critical data. The intense environment of BIOS-SCOPE cruises further strengthens collaboration. Wittmer said that “researchers work 38-hour weeks over the four days at sea, often with little sleep, maximizing data collection under high stakes." Yet, he added that “these demanding conditions foster camaraderie and support” and “you get a ridiculous amount of work done,” while having “the support at sea to work through problems with fellow team members.”

During one of these cruises, Henderson uncovered striking differences in carbon isotope ratios in phytoplankton between the upper and lower euphotic zones of the ocean. Alone, she lacked the data to explain the variation but by combining her analysis with phytoplankton cell counts from other team members, Henderson confirmed that differences in cell size and sunlight likely drove the shift. This teamwork led to a major collaborative publication spanning four research groups, showcasing the program's power in connecting experts across disciplines. 

Graduate student Jacqui Comstock similarly benefited from the BIOS-SCOPE collaborative ethos. Her research revealed that microbial communities attached to particles changed significantly with depth, providing new insight into carbon transformation in the ocean. The work carried out across multiple PhD students and research groups resulted in a publication led by three PhD students and four research teams, illustrating how BIOS-SCOPE turns individual projects into broader scientific advances. 

Beyond its scientific impact, BIOS-SCOPE fosters a strong, supportive professional and personal network. As postdoctoral researcher Michelle Michelsen observes, “The BIOS-SCOPE community has allowed me to form some of the best friendships. Even under intense pressure, the group remains close, a rare quality in such a high-stakes environment.”

Michelsen’s own journey illustrates the positive culture of BIOS-SCOPE. She began as an undergraduate in Steve Giovannoni’s lab at OSU, interning at ASU BIOS to develop microscopy protocols and generate data. Her work on bacterioplankton led to collaborations and joint publications, as well as her recruitment by Ben Temperton at the University of Exeter, where she continued through her PhD and into a postdoctoral role. 

BIOS-SCOPE demonstrates that great science is more than individual achievement. The investigative group fosters a collaborative, visionary environment, encouraging questions that span large time scales and multiple disciplines. Many of the early career researchers credited the program with helping to define their career and making them stronger scientists, a success largely attributed to the thoughtful leadership of principal investigators Carlson and Giovanonni and the mentorship of all of the associated investigator leads. 

“In 2024, we did a big experiment, planned by Worden’s, Kujawinski’s and Carlson’s labs. It was a group effort: one team measured particles, another focused on carbon, and a third team investigated microbial dynamics,” said Wittmers adding that, “while data sharing can be an issue in other projects, this was never a problem in BIOS-SCOPE.”

“Through leadership and mentorship, BIOS-SCOPE is not just a network, it is a supportive community that ensures both the science and personal well-being of the team thrive beyond the lab,” Parsons explains. 

It's evident that BIOS-SCOPE is committed to fostering the next generation of ocean scientists; not only by cultivating exceptional researchers, but also by nurturing strong interdisciplinary partnerships. The program shows that when collaboration leads, both meaningful scientific discovery and personal growth follow.

To learn more about BIOS-SCOPE visit bios.asu.edu