College of Marine Sciences & Maritime Studies

Texas A&M-Galveston Professor Awarded Over $500K NSF Grant To Study Ocean Viruses

Dr. Jessica Labonté, associate professor of marine biology at Texas A&M University at Galveston, has been awarded a prestigious $544,191 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Biological Oceanography program. The three-year grant beginning September 1, 2025, will support her pioneering research into how viruses interact with microbial hosts in sulfate-reducing environments—key players in the ocean’s carbon, sulfur and iron cycles.

“This is foundational research,” said Labonté. “We’re trying to understand the basics of how our planet works.”

Labonté’s work focuses on the Gulf Coast but has far-reaching implications. Sulfate-reducing environments exist worldwide, including in wetlands and hypoxic zones—areas with dangerously low oxygen levels. Her findings could inform environmental policy and reshape how scientists understand the role of viruses in global biogeochemical processes.

“A lot of people are afraid of viruses,” Labonté explained. “But they’re at the base of the food chain and essential to maintaining nutrient balance in the ocean. They’re the most abundant biological entities on Earth, yet we know so little about how they interact with their microbial hosts.”

Dr. Debbie Thomas, associate provost of Texas A&M University, founding dean of the College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies, executive associate vice president for Academic Affairs and chief academic officer of Texas A&M University at Galveston, praised the achievement.

“Dr. Labonté is a leader among peers, and the new NSF award is a testament to the impact of her work and the national recognition of her contributions to advancing our understanding of marine viruses,” said Thomas. “We are so proud of her achievement, but not at all surprised – she is a superstar and there will be many more NSF awards in her future!”

The grant also supports educational outreach. Undergraduate and graduate students will gain hands-on experience through internships, while K–12 students will benefit from programs that highlight the importance of microorganisms and geochemical processes in marine ecosystems. The project aims to shift public perception of viruses—from agents of disease to vital components of environmental health. 

Labonté will collaborate with leading scientists across the Gulf region, including Dr. Brandi Kiel Reese (University of South Alabama), Dr. Christof D. Meile (University of Georgia) and Dr. Marshall Bowles (Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium).

Labonté joined the Galveston campus in 2016 and holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of British Columbia, along with master’s and bachelor’s degrees in microbiology from Université Laval. This is her second NSF grant; her first supported research on microbial recovery in Galveston Bay following Hurricane Harvey.