PeopleWe are a small group of dynamic scientists, and we love what we do. Get to know us here.
|
|
Alina A. Corcoranshe/her/hers
|
Current Laboratory Members
Emma Balsigershe/her/hers
Undergraduate Researcher 
I just finished my freshman year at New Mexico State University and I am very excited to join the Corcoran Lab. I am inspired by the strong women in this lab who have accomplished so much and I hope to be able to learn from them all. My academic interests include biology and health-related sciences. I hope to eventually go to medical school to become a psychiatrist, but I am also interested in pursuing lab research. In my free time, I enjoy playing basketball, reading, building Legos, and spending time with my puppy!
|
Diego Barriahe/him/his
Undergraduate Researcher 
I am a Water Technology student at Doña Ana Community College pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree. I previously earned an A.A.S. degree in Controlled Environment Agriculture from Santa Fe Community College and completed an aquaponics research project at New Mexico State University. I have worked with hydroponic, aquaponic, and algae cultivation systems at a variety of scales. My current work in the lab includes revamping our outdoor cultivation ponds, collecting data and samples in the field, and analyzing nutrient concentrations in the lab.
|
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!
|
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.
|
|
Joyce Marumo
she/her/hers
Senior Scientist. NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Clovis, NM 
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.
|
Brynn Mora
she/her/hers
Undergraduate Researcher 
I am a fourth year undergraduate student majoring in Biology and Microbiology here at New Mexico State University. As a researcher, I am interested in understanding the role of microorganisms in ecosystems. I have analyzed data on Long-billed Hermits and Stripe-throated Hermits to (1) understand adaptive responses of avian species in changing environments and (2) explain how the energetic demands of migration contribute to immune suppression. In the Corcoran Lab, I am exploring how reinoculation with algae and bacteria supports monoculture growth.
|
|
Osher Ostroff
she/her/hers
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 ag, food security and sustainability.
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. |
Kamrul Suman
he/him/his
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.
|