Ginger Armbrust is the Director of the School of Oceanography. Phytoplankton are the main focus of research in the Armbrust lab. These organisms are responsible for about 50% of the total amount of photosynthesis that occurs on our planet. They play a critical role in the global carbon cycle and ultimately in global climate. Because much of the organic carbon generated by phytoplankton is used by bacteria, we also study bacterial/phytoplankton interactions.