Nicole Trefault

Ant-ICON Theme 1 Lead

Nicole Trefault is an Associate Professor at the GEMA Center for Genomics, Ecology & Environment, Universidad Mayor. She is a Biochemist with a PhD in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology. Nicole studies the functional diversity of host-associated microbial communities in Antarctica and the ecology of phytoplankton in polar environments. She develops an integrated approach of culture-dependent and independent strategies based on metagenomics and metatranscriptomics, to understand how microbial communities interact with their biological and physical realm. Currently, she is Vice Chancellor of Research.

Current research projects / interests:

• Fondecyt Grant: Dynamics and functions of sponge microbiomes under the strong seasonal variability of the Antarctic environment.
• Millennium Nucleus Marine Agronomy of Seaweed Holobionts – MASH