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Alina A. Corcoranshe/her/hers
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Current Laboratory Members
Neeshia Hee Macanowicz
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Laboratory Research Manager 
I earned a BA in Biology from Northeastern Illinois University in 2008 and a MS in Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Ecology from New Mexico State University in 2013. I was drawn to NMSU in part because of its status as a Hispanic-Serving Institution. My academic journey began with an exploration of macroinvertebrate populations and led to a position with the US Forest Service. I transitioned to dryland restoration efforts with the US Department of Agriculture in the Chihuahuan Desert. This shift was prompted by the need to address impacts of the climate crisis and underdeveloped land management practices. I have over 7 years’ experience leading field campaigns, collaborating with a variety of stakeholders, and reporting on research. I am dedicated to unraveling our responsibility to the climate and the history of land-grant university status. I firmly believe in the collective power of community to shape an innovative and sustainable future. My professional endeavors are driven by a passion for environmental stewardship and a commitment to fostering positive change in the face of complex ecological challenges.
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Crisandra Jade Diazshe/her/hers
Postdoctoral Researcher 
I earned my PhD in Biology with a specialization in Molecular Biology and Algae Biotechnology in June of 2025 from the School of Biological Sciences at the University of California, San Diego. In the labs of Dr. Stephen Mayfield and Dr. Michael Burkart, I was able to transform algal strains to secrete plastic-degrading enzymes that can serve as a platform for sustainable plastic degradation. My main research interests are in the enhancement of algal crops for production of high-value products for food, feed, enzyme production, and synthetic polymers. I am thrilled to have joined the Corcoran Lab to get hands-on experience at larger scale algae farming in addition to investigating crop protection strategies. Prior to my PhD, I received a B.S. in Biology from NMSU as a former MARC fellow, followed by my M.S. in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology from the University of Michigan. I am excited to have this opportunity to pursue a postdoc back home in Las Cruces!
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Maya Gabitzschshe/her/hers
Master's Student 
I recently graduated with a double major in Biology and Environmental Science from New Mexico State University and joined the Corcoran Lab as a Master's student. My previous research has concentrated on soil microbiology, specifically biocrusts in the Chihuahuan desert. In addition, I have experience in analyzing the soil microbiome metabolomics of gypsum deserts. My research interests are centered on studying bacterial-environment interactions to deciphering the underlying mechanisms of these interactions. As an undergraduate student, I assisted on multiple projects in the Corcoran lab including the DOE-funded projects CRIAS (Cultivation-Ready Improved Algae Strains for Increased Carbon Utilization Efficiency) and W2J (Waste to Jet), led by MicrobioEngineering and the Los Alamos National Laboratory, respectively. My Master's research is focused on the effects of beneficial bacteria on different platform algae strains.
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Osher Ostroff
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Master's Student 
In 2022 I earned a B.S. in both Health Sciences and in Biological Sciences from the University of Central Florida. Currently, I am working towards completing an M.S. in Biology with the intention of pursuing a Ph.D. My core research interests pertain to understanding how microorganisms act within symbiotic relationships, and how we can apply this understanding to how we approach agriculture, environmental sustainability, food security, and more.
Prior to joining the Corcoran lab, my research had a focus on plant bioinformatics, phenotyping, and genotyping. My undergraduate independent research involved mapping genetic variation resulting from single nucleotide polymorphisms in the genomes of 288 sunflower cultivars, focusing on the Mevalonate and Methylerythritol phosphate pathways in Helianthus annuus. I hope to use this knowledge moving forward to study the genetic underpinnings for important mutualistic and parasitic relationships between various microorganisms, with an emphasis on algae and bacteria. |
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Joyce Marumo
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Senior Scientist 
I earned a Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, United Kingdom, and hold BSc (Cum laude) and MSc degrees in Agriculture-Animal Production from the University of Limpopo in South Africa. My master’s project was focused on dairy cattle nutrition with Agricultural Research Council-Animal Production Institute of South Africa, and my doctoral research focused on environmental and social factors influencing milk production in Scottish dairy cows. In 2021, I joined Cornell University, New York, working in the Dairy Cattle Nutrition lab as a Postdoctoral Associate alongside Prof Mike Van Amburgh. There, I updated and modified the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) to quantify, manage, and potentially mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from dairy cattle. In 2024, I joined USDA_ARS-SCINet/AI-COE as a Postdoctoral Fellow, where I worked on developing a cross-kingdom genome editing toolkit using AI. I recently joined the NMSU Extension Animal Resources as a Postdoctoral Researcher and am working on multiple environmental sustainability projects in large South-West dairy production systems. In the Corcoran Lab, I will be supporting work on dairy effluent remediation with algae.
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Thuy Nguyen
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Postdoctoral Researcher 
I earned my Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Mississippi in 2023 and joined the Corcoran Lab in 2024. I have been working on the DOE-funded AvATAC project to develop algae–bacteria pest models and identify anti-virulence compounds to protect algal crops. Since joining the lab, I have explored mutiple model systems with different bacteria and algae in both the lab and field. I am broadly interested in algae-derived natural products, drug discovery, algae–bacteria interactions, and algal ecology. I’m especially motivated by the challenge of translating microbial interactions into practical strategies for healthier, more productive algal systems. Moving forward, I aim to deepen our understanding of algal–microbial dynamics and help advance scalable, sustainable solutions for algae-based biotechnology.
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Kamrul Suman
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Master's Student
Master's Student
I obtained my BS in Fisheries in 2014 and my MS in Fisheries Biology and the Aquatic Environment in 2016 from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU, Bangladesh). I was awarded the Prime Minister Gold Medal and a University Grant Commission fellowship to acknowledge my academic achievements, which motivated me to contribute to developing my riverine nation. During my tenure as Marine Fisheries Officer, Fish Culturist Officer, and Fisheries Extension Officer, I became interested in the areas of climate-adaptive biotechnology extension, enhanced fish culture and yield through genetic modification, and sustainable aquatic resource management. I received a one-year mentorship fellowship from the Crawford Fund Australia, which allowed me to work with a University of New South Wales (Australia) to learn about building research collaborations, curating data, generating scientific papers, and navigating the publication process. I started my PhD in the MOLB-ILS program and joined the Corcoran lab in the fall of 2024 as a Graduate Research Assistant. My research will concentrate on how climate change affects the molecular interactions of microorganisms, particularly between algae and bacteria, and how these interactions affect the spread of zoonotic diseases. I am also interested in how the genetic manipulation of algae and bacteria can stimulate improved agriculture, algae-based biofuel, and aquaculture. I love to learn new skills and I believe in scientific collaboration, which can pave the way towards solving a multitude of global problems.