Christina Kellogg
About Christina Kellogg
Christina Kellogg is a Research Microbiologist at the U.S. Geological Survey, where she leads the Coral Microbial Ecology Laboratory and has conducted research on deepwater coral ecosystems since 2004. She holds a Ph.D. in Marine Microbiology from the University of South Florida and has authored over 30 peer-reviewed papers.
Work at U.S. Geological Survey
Christina Kellogg has worked at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as a Research Microbiologist since 2003. She leads the Coral Microbial Ecology Laboratory, focusing on the microbial dynamics of coral ecosystems. Her research has contributed to understanding deepwater coral ecosystems since 2004. Kellogg has utilized submersibles, including the Delta and Johnson-Sea-Link, to explore these ecosystems. She represents the Department of the Interior on the Federal Microbiome Interagency Working Group and is part of the National Microbiome Data Collaborative.
Education and Expertise
Christina Kellogg earned her Ph.D. in Marine Microbiology from the University of South Florida, where she studied from 1991 to 1998. Prior to that, she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Georgetown University, studying from 1987 to 1991. Her educational background has equipped her with extensive knowledge in microbiology, particularly in relation to marine environments. She has also served as a postdoctoral fellow at both Georgetown University Medical Center and the U.S. Geological Survey.
Background
Christina Kellogg's academic journey began at All Saints, where she graduated as valedictorian in 1987. She then pursued her undergraduate studies at Georgetown University, followed by graduate research at the University of South Florida. After completing her Ph.D., she worked as a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University Medical Center and the U.S. Geological Survey. Her career has been marked by a commitment to marine microbiology and coral ecosystem research.
Achievements
Christina Kellogg has authored over 30 peer-reviewed papers and several book chapters, contributing significantly to the field of microbiology. She has been actively involved in various initiatives, including judging the $7 million Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE and serving as a judge for the $2 million Wendy Schmidt Ocean Health XPRIZE competition in 2015. Kellogg was elected to the Council Policy Committee of the American Society for Microbiology from 2012 to 2016 and played a role in revamping the organization's communication and governance structures.
Research Contributions
Kellogg's research on tropical corals has taken her to diverse locations, including the Florida Keys, Caribbean, Hawaii, and American Samoa. Her work has focused on understanding the interactions within coral microbial communities and their implications for coral health and resilience. She has also given keynote talks on aerosol microbiology and deep-sea coral microbial work, sharing her findings with the broader scientific community.