Congratulations Dr. Zauner!
Sarah Zauner successfully defended her PhD thesis entitled "From bivalves to microbes to birds: ecological interactions in a marine symbiosis" on July 30, 2025.
In her thesis Sarah explored the intracellular chemosymbiosis between the gamma-proteobacterial symbiont Candidatus Thiodiazotropha and lucinid bivalves that drives sulfur cycling in seagrass sediments. By integrating reproductive strategy, microbial community dynamics, and unexpected trophic dispersal, Sarah's work reframes symbiont transmission and uncovers the complex biotic interactions structuring coastal holobionts.
The board of examiners included Barbara Campbell (Clemson University), Maxim Rubin-Blum (Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research), Silvia Bulgheresi (University of Vienna).
Congratulations, Sarah!
