Dr Sanjit Debnath

I am a microbial ecologist and bioinformatician, specialising in aquatic microbiomes and their roles in ecosystem functioning. I combine microbiology, molecular biology, and advanced bioinformatics to address complex ecological questions. I use high-throughput sequencing (Illumina and Oxford Nanopore) and statistical modelling to understand how microbial communities respond to various environmental changes.

In my current role as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Exeter, I'm working on the Convex Seascape Survey, a pioneering global initiative to quantify blue carbon stored in coastal seafloor sediments. In this role, I'm using environmental DNA (eDNA) from marine sediment cores to investigate how natural and anthropogenic disturbance shape microbial communities, influence carbon storage, and affect ecosystem resilience.

My research aims to generate actionable insights that support sustainable ocean management and contribute to climate change mitigation through an improved understanding of carbon storage in seafloor sediment