LABOMM – Laboratory of Marine Microbiology
The Laboratory of Marine Microbiology (LABOMM) at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR, Brazil) is the scientific home of MicroAlgarium.
Led by Prof. Catherine G. Ribeiro, LABOMM is dedicated to the study of marine microbes, from their diversity and ecology to genetics and biotech applications.
Our Team
Our comprehensive suite of professional services caters to a diverse clientele, ranging from homeowners to commercial developers.
Prof. Catherine Ribeiro
- Dr. Ribeiro is an oceanographer and microbial ecologist, currently an Associate Professor at the Federal University of Paraná (Brazil) and a National Geographic Explorer since 2023.
- Her research focuses on how environmental forces shape microbial diversity in polar regions. By combining classical and innovative culturing techniques with state-of-the-art DNA sequencing, Dr. Ribeiro investigates some of Earth’s smallest yet most diverse organisms.
Érica Magalhães
- Érica Maria Magalhães is a master’s student in the Graduate Program in Coastal and Oceanic Systems (PGSISCO) at the Federal University of Paraná (Brazil).
- Her research focuses on cultivable microorganisms from Antarctica and their responses to environmental stressors, aiming to understand microbial resilience to climate change and its implications for polar ecosystems.
Thomas Gasparini
- Thomas Gasparini is a biologist and laboratory technician at LABOMM, as well as a master’s student at the Federal University of Paraná (Brazil).
- His research focuses on plankton diversity in the oceanic region off Brazil, with particular emphasis on the genus Pseudo-nitzschia, a group of diatoms known for their ecological importance and potential toxin production.