Nathan L. R. Williams

Microbial ecologist

Microbial ecology across coasts and oceans.

Minima Maxima Sunt

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About

Nathan L. R. Williams

During my PhD at the University of Technology Sydney (2019–2022), I investigated microbial hazards in coastal environments. My work distinguished faecal contamination from animal and human sources, helped government bodies remediate recreational beaches, and traced human pathogens and their capacity for antibiotic resistance. We found that these hazards increase following climate-driven rainfall events, posing risks to human health and aquaculture.

Since joining the Fuhrman Lab at the University of Southern California in August 2023, my research has expanded into global ocean microbiology. My main project has been developing, maintaining, and improving the Global rRNA Universal Metabarcoding of Plankton database—GRUMP. The project provides real observations for comparison with the MIT DARWIN model, helping us understand plankton distributions, biogeochemical cycles, and how microbial abundances may change with ocean conditions.

I have also integrated genomic internal standards into DNA extractions, coupling amplicon sequencing with analysis of single-copy genes from metagenomes to obtain absolute abundances of marine plankton.

Portrait of Nathan L. R. Williams
Research

Current areas of focus

01

Global ocean microbiology

Connecting observed plankton communities with global ecological and physical-oceanographic models.

02

Universal metabarcoding

Using 16S and 18S rRNA marker genes to profile marine microbial and eukaryotic communities together.

03

Absolute abundance

Integrating genomic internal standards, amplicon sequencing, and metagenomics to quantify plankton.

04

Coastal microbial hazards

Tracing faecal contamination, antimicrobial resistance, and pathogens in recreational waters.

In the field

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Researchers lowering water-sampling equipment from a coastal pier
Photo by Andy Roberts · Collecting coastal water samples in New South Wales.
Collecting a coastal water sample from a dock
Photo by Andy Roberts · Sampling the coastal microbial community.
Carrying sampling containers beside a coastal sewage-overflow warning sign
Photo by Andy Roberts · Tracing microbial hazards from catchment to coast.
Researchers collecting water samples along a shoreline
Photo by Andy Roberts · Sampling recreational coastal waters.
A coastal field team standing beside a water-quality warning sign
Photo by Andy Roberts · Field collaboration in New South Wales.
Oceanographic equipment and open ocean viewed from a research vessel
Sampling at the San Pedro Ocean Time Series, Los Angeles, California
Nathan Williams standing beside a research vessel
Sampling at the San Pedro Ocean Time Series, Los Angeles, California
An oceanographic instrument being lowered into the ocean
Sampling at the San Pedro Ocean Time Series, Los Angeles, California
Research vessel deck, sampling equipment, and the open ocean
Sampling at the San Pedro Ocean Time Series, Los Angeles, California
Publications

Selected work

First and co-first author highlights.

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Contact

Get in touch.

University of Southern California · Fuhrman Lab