In support of the above project, Dr. Alyson Santoro will assist with experimental design, expedition planning, and sample collection for a research cruise aboard the R/V Falkor, sailing from Montevideo, Uruguay. Dr. Santoro will serve as a co-chief scientist on the cruise and lead water sampling operations for the expedition, and work with subgrantee to process water and sediment samples for flow cytometric analysis at sea. Dr. Santoro will supervise postdoctoral researcher Dr. Jeemin Rhim, who will lead cell extraction, genome amplification, genome sequencing and genomic analysis for individual archaeal cells from complex communities. These data will be provided to the entire cruise party.