Karl Kaiser

What in your life drew you to your current field of study?

I always wanted to do chemistry in shorts.

What do you hope your students gain from studying or working with you?

An appreciation for chemistry, quantitative measurements, and how the planet functions.

What are you passionate about in your personal life?

I ride more miles on my bicycle than I drive.

Ph.D. Marine Sciences, University of South Carolina, 2009

M.S. Chemical Engineering, Johannes Kepler Universitaet, 1997

B.S. Chemical Engineering, Johannes Kepler Universitaet, 1994

Courses Taught

CHEM 227: Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 228: Organic Chemistry II
CHEM 316: Quantitative Analysis
CHEM 318: Quantitative Analysis Laboratory
MARS 365: Integrated Marine Science LAB

Publications

Kaiser, K., Canedo, M., McMahon, R., Amon, R. (2017) Origins and transformations of organic matter in major Arctic rivers. Nature Sci. Rep. 7, doi:10.1038/s41598-017-1272.

Kaiser, K., Amon, R., and R. Benner (2017). The fate of terrigenous dissolved organic carbon on the Eurasian shelves and export to the North Atlantic. J. Geophys. Res.- Oceans., 10.1002/2016JC012380.

Philben, M., K. Kaiser, and R. Benner. Does oxygen exposure time control the extent of organic matter decomposition in peatlands? (2014). J. Geophys. Res. Biogeochem., 119, 897-909.

Kaiser, K and R. Benner (2012). Characterization of lignin by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry using a simplified CuO oxidation method. Anal. Chem., 84, 459-464.

Kaiser, K. and R. Benner (2009). Biochemical composition and size distribution of organic matter at the Pacific and Atlantic Time-Series Stations. Mar. Chem., 113, 63-77.

Kaiser, K. and R. Benner (2008). Major bacterial contributions to the ocean reservoirs of detrital organic carbon and nitrogen. Limnol. Oceanogr. 53, 99-112.

Presentations

April 2017: Kaiser, K., Amon, R., and R. Benner. The fate of terrigenous dissolved organic carbon on the Eurasian shelves and export to the North Atlantic, European Geoscience Union Meeting

Grants and Fellowships

2016: $3,486

International Humic Substance Society; Chemical analysis of standard humic and fulvic acids Source of Support: Role: PI

2015: $674,719

NSF OCE Chemical Oceanography Award; Development and application of a high sensitivity, ultra-low volume method to measure biomarkers of terrigenous organic matter in the open ocean; Amount: $256,841
Total Award Period Covered: 12/1/2015-12/31/2018
Role: PI With Rainer Amon and Patrick Louchouarn as Co-PIs

NSF Arctic Research Opportunities Award; Collaborative research: Does dissolved organic matter influence the concentrations and distributions of trace elements in the Arctic Ocean?; Amount: $399,878 to Texas A&M
Total Award Period Covered: 08/1/2015-7/31/2018
Role: Co-PI Lead by Rainer Amon, and Ronald Benner as additional Co-PI

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Dissolved free amino acids as signals for homing by salmon; Award Amount: $18,000
Role: PI

2014: $6,500

Texas A&M University; Montague CTE Scholarship, $6,500

2013: $316,750

NSF EAR Geobiology and Low-Temperature Geochemistry; Application of biomarkers to examine transformations of dissolved carbon and nitrogen reservoirs in Arctic rivers; Total Award Amount: $74,209 Total Award
Period Covered: 1/12/2013-11/30/2016
Role: PI

NSF OCE Chemical Oceanography; Collaborative Research: Calibration and application of vascular plant and aqueous microbial biomarkers to examine transformations of dissolved organic matter. Award Amount: $242,541 to Texas A&M
Total Award Period Covered: 10/1/2013 – 9/30/2018
Role: PI at TAMUG With Peter Hernes at UC Davis and Robert Spencer at FSU.

Awards & Recognition

2010: Distinguished Achievement Award. Texas A&M University - Association of Former Students.

2014-2015: Montague-CTE Scholar. Texas A&M University.

2010: Dissertations in Chemical Oceanography Symposium (sponsored by NSF)

2009: Marine Science Program Publication Award. University of South Carolina

2008: John F. Vernberg Publication Award

2006: John F. Vernberg Publication Award

Professional Appointments

Spring 2013–Present: Graduate Faculty, Texas A&M, Department of Oceanography

July 2013-Present: Graduate Faculty, Texas A&M, MARB-IDP

Current Graduate Students

Dr. Ge Yan, Post-Doctorate

Amanda Sterne, Graduate Student