Steve Poulos
Papers
2
Total Citations
68
H-Index
2
About
Steve Poulos is a pioneer in robotic oceanography, specializing in the intersection of autonomous systems and microbial ecology. His research centers on developing coordinated robot teams to study the deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM)—a critical, subsurface layer of phytoplankton that drives ocean productivity and carbon cycling. Poulos’s major contribution is the design and field validation of a system of multiple autonomous underwater vehicles that work in concert to perform Lagrangian (flow-following) sampling of microbes within dynamic ocean features like eddies. His most-cited work (2021, 61 citations) demonstrates how this robotic fleet can capture high-resolution, in situ data that satellite remote sensing cannot reach, revealing how environmental processes shape microbial communities. Earlier, his 2018 study (7 citations) showcased autonomous targeted sampling within a subtropical North Pacific eddy, proving that robots can overcome the logistical and budgetary constraints of traditional ship-based expeditions. By enabling persistent, high-frequency observations, Poulos’s work is transforming microbial oceanography, providing scientists with unprecedented access to the ocean’s hidden layers.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2