Dr. Bam is an oceanographer with expertise in chemical oceanography, marine biogeochemistry, and field-based research. His academic background and hands-on experience in oceanographic fieldwork, advanced analytical techniques, and environmental monitoring have contributed to a deep understanding of the biogeochemical processes that regulate oceanic carbon cycles. He continues to engage in research that enhances our knowledge of ocean-climate interactions, carbon sequestration, and biogeochemical feedback mechanisms in marine ecosystems. He earned his PhD in Chemical Oceanography (May 2021) at Louisiana State University (LSU), Baton Rouge, LA under the supervision of Dr. Kanchan Maiti (Marine Chemistry Lab at LSU). His dissertation Topic was "Evaluating Biological Carbon Pump Across Continental Margins Undergoing Accelerated Climatic Changes". He completed his masters in Oceanography and Coastal Sciences (Aug 2015) under the supervision of Dr. R. Eugene Turner and Dr. Linda M. Hooper-Bui, investigating the long-term impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on saltmarsh ecosystems and terrestrial arthropod communities.
Dr. Bam has extensive hands-on experience in oceanographic research, with over 300 days at sea participating in multidisciplinary research cruises. He has actively participated in numerous international oceanographic research cruises, contributing to large-scale projects such as US GEOTRACES, WHOI Ocean Twilight Zone, and EXPORTS NASA/NSF. He has participated cruises in Southern Pacific, Antarctic, North Atlantic, and the Gulf of Mexico. These expeditions provided Dr. Bam with invaluable experience in interdisciplinary marine science, fostering collaborations with leading researchers worldwide. He has been involved in:
Sediment Coring – Extraction of sediment cores from coast and continental margins to study past climate variability, sediment/carbon sequestration and biogeochemical cycling.
Sediment-Water Interface Profiling – Investigation of nutrient fluxes, organic matter remineralization, and redox-sensitive processes at the sediment-water boundary.
Sediment Pore Water Extraction – Analysis of dissolved nutrient and trace metal distributions in pore waters to understand diagenetic processes.
Biological Carbon Pump Studies – Deployment of sediment traps (Surface Tethered Trap and McLane Sediment Trap) to quantify organic carbon fluxes and assess particulate matter dynamics.
Large Volume McLane Pump & Filtration Systems – Collection of suspended particulate matter and radionuclide samples to evaluate particle sinking rates and remineralization efficiency.
Oceanographic Field Instrument Deployment & Recovery – Hands-on operation of CTD rosettes, autonomous water samplers, and in-situ sensors to measure oceanographic parameters.
Research Cruise Planning & Leadership – Coordination of sampling strategies, team logistics, and real-time data acquisition to ensure the success of large-scale field campaigns.
Dr. Bam is proficient in using advanced analytical instrumentation for geochemical and radiochemical analysis, including:
Canberra Alpha Analyst – High-resolution silicon-surface barrier (PIPS) alpha detectors for measuring radionuclide activities such as 210Po and 210Pb
High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) Well Detectors – Gamma spectrometry for analyzing radioisotopes in marine sediments and water samples.
Risø Low-Level Beta Multicounter System – Radiometric analysis of beta-emitting isotopes used in particle flux studies.
RaDeCC System – Measurement of radium isotopes in seawater to investigate water mass mixing and particle dynamics.