Bradley Tolar

I grew up on the Gulf of Mexico in south Mississippi, so the ocean has always been a part of my life. Although it took time for me to realize my career path, I found that my passions for discovery, outreach, community service, and teaching all pointed toward a faculty position in science.

I became a scientist because I had incredible teachers in high school who pushed me to pursue my curiosity and from that I found a love for research and “unseen” microbial life in college. I began studying desert soil bacteria, became interested in taxonomy and phylogeny, and pursued graduate school to study marine microorganisms. My project involved characterizing a new group of marine archaea – the Thaumarchaeota – and I’ve been fascinated with them ever since. I am most interested in understanding how microorganisms adapt to a changing environment, and discovering more about under-characterized groups of microbes.

Apart from research, I am passionate about education (both to students and the public) and mentorship, and I strive to make my field a more inclusive and supportive environment for all people. I truly believe anyone can do science, and encourage even the second graders I work with to call themselves “scientists”, “do research” by exploring the world around them, and “record their observations” through notes and drawings. Outside of work, I love to explore the world through hikes, good food, and road trips.

Education

PhD in Microbiology, University of Georgia (2014)
BSc in Microbiology, Louisiana State University (2008)

Specialization in Teaching

Biological Oceanography & Lab (BIO/L 564)
Microbiology (BIO 330)
Science Communication (BIO 495 & BIO 585)
Introduction to Science as a Profession (BIO 501)

Research Interests

I first became interested in studying the Archaea – the lesser-studied third Domain of Life, distinct from Bacteria and Eukaryotes like us – while a graduate student. There, I focused on archaea found in the oceans, unlike the ‘extremophiles’ we are used to studying in hot springs and salt lakes. These Thaumarchaeota (now found in nearly every biome on Earth, including estuaries, lakes, soils, sediment, hot springs, etc.) are are key players in the global Nitrogen Cycle that take part in the first step of nitrification – the transformation of ammonia (a typical waste product and component of agricultural fertilizer) to nitrite.

Research in my lab focuses on understanding the roles these Archaea play in their respective environments, and how changes across space and time impact their abundance, activity, and diversity. Currently, these projects include:
(1) Time-series assessment of Thaumarchaeota dynamics within southeastern US estuaries, focused around an annual summer archaeal 'bloom'
(2) Investigation of symbiotic associations between archaea and invertebrate animals, especially ascidians or "sea squirts"
(3) Analysis of microbial contributions to carbon and nitrogen cycling in tidal and freshwater wetlands, including the measurement greenhouse gas emissions and restoration efficacy
(4) Assessment of the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of habitats from the NC coast to the Gulf Stream, and how they change seasonally (TEAL-SHIPS)

We also have numerous active collaborations with other UNCW faculty, as well as many independent undergraduate research projects.

Professional Service

UNCW Queer and Trans Faculty Staff Association (QTFSA)
Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO)
ASLO Multicultural Program (ASLOMP) Mentor
Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM)
Reviewer for External Grants and Scholarly Manuscripts

Community Engagement

Marine Quest
Oceans17