National Science Foundation (NSF) in partnership with the Centre Scientifique de Monaco


In partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF), the chief agency for financing scientific research in the United States, the Centre Scientifique de Monaco welcomes Dr. Holcomb, an American graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology / Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (USA).

NSF has granted two-years funding to Dr. Holcomb to continue his research at the Centre Scientifique de Monaco. The funding takes into account both the salary of Dr. Michael Holcomb and much of his research budget.

 The choice of the NSF demonstrates the international reputation of the research on coral reefs within the Centre Scientifique de Monaco. Dr. Holcomb's research is conducted within the team of Physiology-Biochemistry, under the scientific direction of Dr. Sylvie Tambutté. The research focuses on the energy of calcification in corals.

One of the major themes of the CSM is to understand how corals, sentinels of the state of the oceans and biodiversity of key species, will react in response to climate change. Also, researchers are studying the mechanisms behind the formation of calcareous skeletons of corals, and the role of microscopic algae living in symbiosis with the coral. These photosynthetic algae provide the coral with a source of energy that stimulates the process of calcification. This mutualistic association is behind the success of reef building corals. Under the effect of environmental stresses, however, such as warming or ocean acidification, corals turn white and lose their algae and may die.

Through his work in close collaboration with researchers at the CSM, Dr. Holcomb seeks to identify the molecules involved in energy transfer between photosynthetic algae and coral and to determine their role in the calcification process. Better understanding of these interactions will provide insight into how coral reefs function and also preserve this source of biodiversity.