Professor
Department of Marine Sciences and Skidaway Institute of Oceanography
University of Georgia Athens
10 Ocean Science Circle
Savannah, Ga. 31411
Office: (912) 598-2361
Fax: (912) 598-2310
Email: jay.brandes@skio.uga.edu
Education:
B.S. Humboldt State University, Chemistry
B.S. Humboldt State University, Oceanography
M.Sc. University of Washington, Oceanography
Ph.D. University of Washington, Oceanography [Chemistry]
Professional Background:
Director, Skidaway Island Scientific Stable Isotope Laboratory (SISSIL)
Research Interests:
I am a marine and freshwater chemist who uses a variety of tools and techniques to study carbon and nutrient cycling, micro-plastic pollution and their interactions with light (photochemistry), and aquatic life on a wide range of scales. My lab’s main analytical techniques are the measurements of the stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen to determine sources, pathways and rates. The Lab has a new Instrument on order for early 2024 that will add new micro-analysis capabilities and thus many new areas for exploration. In addition my lab uses different spectroscopic techniques such as X-ray and Raman microscopy to explore processes at the smallest scales. I particularly enjoy working out new techniques to allow for different perspectives on environmental problems.
Currently I am funded by NSF to study food webs that develop under well-mixed water columns vs. those in more layered or stratified coastal environments, using isotope dilution liquid chromatography-Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry. This project is with Dr. Frischer and Dr. Greer at SkIO (see ad HERE). I have also been involved in examining the issue of plastic pollution in Georgia’s waters, especially the issue of microplastic contamination. This work is in collaboration with Dr. Sue Banks at Savannah State University, and involves the active participation of a variety of volunteers as well as Students, in sample collection and processing. A new confocal Raman microscope, installed at SkIO in 2020, aids in the identification of plastic type in samples.
Lab: