Algal polysaccharides are a major reservoir of carbon in the ocean. Marine algae carry out around half of global photosynthesis, converting carbon dioxide into an extraordinary diversity of organic molecules.

Each glycan's precise chemical structure determines how it behaves in marine ecosystems. This structure determines whether glycans are rapidly consumed by microbes or persist and sink to the deep ocean, where they can store carbon for centuries.

Our research uses organic chemistry and chemical biology to decode how algal glycans function in the ocean. We focus on glycans that resist microbial degradation and therefore play a disproportionate role in long-term carbon sequestration. These same algal glycans also show emerging potential as new medicines and materials.

The central question we address is: which specific sugar structures drive a given biological or environmental effect?

By synthesising defined glycans and developing chemical biology tools, we aim to identify the precise structures that control carbon storage and biological activity.