Victoria J. Orphan
James Irvine Professor of Environmental Science and Geobiology; Allen V. C. Davis and Lenabelle Davis Leadership Chair, Center for Environmental Microbial Interactions; Director, Center for Environmental Microbial Interactions
B.A., University of California, Santa Barbara, 1994; Ph.D., 2002. Assistant Professor, Caltech, 2004-2010; Associate Professor, 2010; Professor, 2010-16; Irvine Professor, 2016-; Davis Leadership Chair, 2020-; Director, Center for Environmental Microbial Interactions, 2020-.
Research Summary
Molecular microbial ecology of anaerobic communities involved in carbon and sulfur cycling; application and development of combined molecular and isotopic methods for relating uncultured microorganisms to biogeochemical processes and understanding interspecies interactions. Specific research interests include microbial community structure and function in deep subsurface habitats, marine sediments, oil and gas seeps, and early Earth analog environments.
Research Options
Environmental Science and Engineering;
Geobiology;
Research Areas
Isotope Biogeochemistry;
Molecular Microbial Ecology;
Publications
- Mueller, Elliott P.;Panehal, Juliann et al. (2024) Isotopic evidence of acetate turnover in Precambrian continental fracture fluidsNature Communications
- Hoehler, Tori M.;Amend, Jan P. et al. (2024) Editorial: Studies on life at the energetic edge – from laboratory experiments to field-based investigations, volume IIFrontiers in Microbiology
- Osorio-Rodriguez, Daniela;Metcalfe, Kyle S. et al. (2023) Microbially induced precipitation of silica by anaerobic methane-oxidizing consortia and implications for microbial fossil preservationProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Candry, Pieter;Chadwick, Grayson L. et al. (2023) Trophic interactions shape the spatial organization of medium-chain carboxylic acid producing granular biofilm communitiesISME Journal
- Murali, Ranjani;Yu, Hang et al. (2023) Physiological potential and evolutionary trajectories of syntrophic sulfate-reducing bacterial partners of anaerobic methanotrophic archaeaPLOS Biology
- Mangenot, Xavier;Xie, Hao et al. (2023) ²H-²H clumping in molecular hydrogen method and preliminary resultsChemical Geology
- Laso-Pérez, Rafael;Wu, Fabai et al. (2023) Evolutionary diversification of methanotrophic ANME-1 archaea and their expansive viromeNature Microbiology
- Utter, D. R.;Orphan, V. J. (2023) Gifts hidden in shadowy genome islandsCell
- Murali, Ranjani;Yu, Hang et al. (2022) Physiological adaptation of sulfate reducing bacteria in syntrophic partnership with anaerobic methanotrophic archaea
- McGlynn, Shawn Erin;Perkins, Guy et al. (2022) A Cristae-Like Microcompartment in DesulfobacterotamBio
- Wegener, Gunter;Laso-Pérez, Rafael et al. (2022) Anaerobic Degradation of Alkanes by Marine ArchaeaAnnual Review of Microbiology
- Aronson, Heidi S.;Monteverde, Danielle R. et al. (2022) Sulfur cycling at natural hydrocarbon and sulfur seeps in Santa Paula Creek, CAGeobiology
- Schwartzman, Julia A.;Ebrahimi, Ali et al. (2022) Bacterial growth in multicellular aggregates leads to the emergence of complex life cyclesCurrent Biology
- Laso-Pérez, Rafael;Wu, Fabai et al. (2022) Evolutionary Diversification of Methanotrophic Ca. Methanophagales (ANME-1) and Their Expansive Virome
- Speth, Daan R.;Yu, Feiqiao B. et al. (2022) Microbial communities of Auka hydrothermal sediments shed light on vent biogeography and the evolutionary history of thermophilyISME Journal
- Heryakusuma, Christian;Susanti, Dwi et al. (2022) A Reduced F₄₂₀-Dependent Nitrite Reductase in an Anaerobic Methanotrophic ArchaeonJournal of Bacteriology
- Yu, Hang;Speth, Daan R. et al. (2022) Community Structure and Microbial Associations in Sediment-Free Methanotrophic Enrichment Cultures from a Marine Methane SeepApplied and Environmental Microbiology
- Case, Nicola T.;Song, Min et al. (2022) Exploring Space via Astromycology: A Report on the CIFAR Programs Earth 4D and Fungal Kingdom Inaugural Joint MeetingAstrobiology
- Lingappa, Usha F.;Stein, Nathaniel T. et al. (2022) Early impacts of climate change on a coastal marine microbial mat ecosystemScience Advances
- Himmler, Tobias;Crémière, Antoine et al. (2022) Putative fossils of chemotrophic microbes preserved in seep carbonates from Vestnesa Ridge, off northwest Svalbard, NorwayGeology
- Wu, Fabai;Speth, Daan R. et al. (2022) Unique mobile elements and scalable gene flow at the prokaryote–eukaryote boundary revealed by circularized Asgard archaea genomesNature Microbiology
- Chadwick, Grayson L.;Skennerton, Connor T. et al. (2022) Comparative genomics reveals electron transfer and syntrophic mechanisms differentiating methanotrophic and methanogenic archaeaPLoS Biology
- Yu, Hang;Skennerton, Connor T. et al. (2022) Sulfate differentially stimulates but is not respired by diverse anaerobic methanotrophic archaeaISME Journal
- Lloyd, M. K.;Trembath-Reichert, E. et al. (2021) Methoxyl stable isotopic constraints on the origins and limits of coal-bed methaneScience
- Osorio‐Rodriguez, Daniela;Razo-Mejia, Manuel et al. (2021) Sulfur isotope fractionations constrain the biological cycling of dimethylsulfoniopropionate in the upper oceanLimnology and Oceanography
Bi/Ge/ESE 105. Evolution.
12 units (3-4-5); second term, 2023-24.
Prerequisites: Completion of Core Curriculum Courses. Maximum enrollment: 15, by application only.
The theory of evolution is arguably biology’s greatest idea and serves as the overarching framework for thinking about the diversity and relationships between organisms. This course will present a broad picture of evolution starting with discussions of the insights of the great naturalists, the study of the genetic basis of variation, and an introduction to the key driving forces of evolution. Following these foundations, we will then focus on a number of case studies including the following: evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis, origin of eukaryotes, multicellularity, influence of symbiosis, the emergence of life from the water (i.e. fins to limbs), the return of life to the water (i.e. limbs to fins), diversity following major extinction events, the discovery of Archaea, insights into evolution that have emerged from sequence analysis, and finally human evolution and the impact of humans on evolution (including examples such as antibiotic resistance). A specific focus for considering these issues will be the island biogeography of the Galapagos.
Given in alternate years; offered 2023-24.
Instructors: Phillips, Orphan
Instructors: Phillips, Orphan
Ge/ESE/Bi 248. Environmental Justice.
6 units (2-0-4); first term, 2023-24.
This seminar course will explore and discuss the unique intersection of environmental racism, environmental justice, and academia. Course material will primarily feature readings and videos on a case study-like basis and focus on bringing conversations typically had in humanities, social sciences and activism to the bio and geosciences. Topics will center around two primary approaches: an "outward-facing" component that looks at environmental racism through the lens of various activisms, and an "inward-facing" component addressing the biases/malpractices broadly employed in the biological and geosciences, as well as the apparent moral dilemmas of decisions involving multiple stakeholders. Out of class work will largely be based on assigned readings, some multimedia presentations, and occasional writings and thought exercises. This course is taught concurrently with Hum 61 and can only be taken once, as Ge/ESE/Bi 248 or Hum 61.
Instructor: Orphan
Instructor: Orphan
Bi/Ge/ESE 105. Evolution.
12 units (3-4-5); second term, 2022-23.
Prerequisites: Completion of Core Curriculum Courses. Maximum enrollment: 15, by application only.
The theory of evolution is arguably biology’s greatest idea and serves as the overarching framework for thinking about the diversity and relationships between organisms. This course will present a broad picture of evolution starting with discussions of the insights of the great naturalists, the study of the genetic basis of variation, and an introduction to the key driving forces of evolution. Following these foundations, we will then focus on a number of case studies including the following: evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis, origin of eukaryotes, multicellularity, influence of symbiosis, the emergence of life from the water (i.e. fins to limbs), the return of life to the water (i.e. limbs to fins), diversity following major extinction events, the discovery of Archaea, insights into evolution that have emerged from sequence analysis, and finally human evolution and the impact of humans on evolution (including examples such as antibiotic resistance). A specific focus for considering these issues will be the island biogeography of the Galapagos.
Given in alternate years; not offered 2022-23.
Instructors: Phillips, Orphan
Instructors: Phillips, Orphan
Ge/ESE/Bi 178. Microbial Ecology.
9 units (3-2-4); second term, 2022-23.
Prerequisites: either ESE/Bi 166 or ESE/Bi 168 recommended.
Structural, phylogenetic, and metabolic diversity of microorganisms in nature. The course explores microbial interactions, relationships between diversity and physiology in modern and ancient environments, and influence of microbial community structure on biogeochemical cycles. Introduction to ecological principles and molecular approaches used in microbial ecology and geobiological investigations.
Given in alternate years; offered 2022-23.
Instructor: Orphan
Instructor: Orphan
Ge/Bi/ESE 246. Molecular Geobiology Seminar.
6 units (2-0-4); first term, 2022-23.
Critical reviews and discussion of classic papers and current research in microbiology and geomicrobiology. As the topics will vary from year to year, it may be taken multiple times.
Not offered 2022-23.
Instructor: Orphan
Instructor: Orphan
Ge/ESE/Bi 248. Environmental Justice.
6 units (2-0-4); first term, 2022-23.
This seminar course will explore and discuss the unique intersection of environmental racism, environmental justice, and academia. Course material will primarily feature readings and videos on a case study-like basis and focus on bringing conversations typically had in humanities, social sciences and activism to the bio and geosciences. Topics will center around two primary approaches: an "outward-facing" component that looks at environmental racism through the lens of various activisms, and an "inward-facing" component addressing the biases/malpractices broadly employed in the biological and geosciences, as well as the apparent moral dilemmas of decisions involving multiple stakeholders. Out of class work will largely be based on assigned readings, some multimedia presentations, and occasional writings and thought exercises. This course is taught concurrently with Hum 61 and can only be taken once, as Ge/ESE/Bi 248 or Hum 61.
Instructor: Orphan
Instructor: Orphan
Bi/Ge/ESE 105. Evolution.
12 units (3-4-5); second term, 2021-22.
Prerequisites: Completion of Core Curriculum Courses. Maximum enrollment: 15, by application only.
The theory of evolution is arguably biology’s greatest idea and serves as the overarching framework for thinking about the diversity and relationships between organisms. This course will present a broad picture of evolution starting with discussions of the insights of the great naturalists, the study of the genetic basis of variation, and an introduction to the key driving forces of evolution. Following these foundations, we will then focus on a number of case studies including the following: evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis, origin of eukaryotes, multicellularity, influence of symbiosis, the emergence of life from the water (i.e. fins to limbs), the return of life to the water (i.e. limbs to fins), diversity following major extinction events, the discovery of Archaea, insights into evolution that have emerged from sequence analysis, and finally human evolution and the impact of humans on evolution (including examples such as antibiotic resistance). A specific focus for considering these issues will be the island biogeography of the Galapagos. Given in alternate years; offered 2021–22.
Instructors: Phillips, Orphan
Instructors: Phillips, Orphan