Laura M. Otter, PhD
Research Fellow in biomineralization at the Australian National University
About:
Mission and values:
My research advances the fundamental understanding of biomineralization processes recorded in environmental proxy archives, refining climate reconstructions and assessing the impacts of ocean acidification and warming on marine calcifiers. My work also contributes to marine food security and sustainable pearl culturing.
Beyond research, I am an advocate for inclusive and equitable research environments.Supporting initiatives to help foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment in which everyone feels welcome is very important to me and aligned to my core values of, fairness, kindness, and respect.
Research Questions:
What controls and processes govern biomineral growth, from nucleation to final mineral form?
How do biominerals incorporate elemental and isotopic signatures indicative of their environment?
What mechanisms preserve intricate ultrastructures during amorphous-to-crystalline phase transformation?
How do organic molecules influence biomineral mechanical properties and structure-function relationships?
Research Method:
I grow calcifying marine organisms in controlled aquaculture and track their growth with pulse-chase labeling. Using advanced micro- to nano-analytical techniques (PiFM/Nano-IR, micro-Raman, X-ray and electron diffraction, (Nano-)SIMS, Atom Probe), I investigate phase composition, crystallinity, amorphous-to-crystalline transformations, and structural organization to advance biomineralization research and environmental proxy development.