My research focuses on the carbon cycling of organic molecules, specifically the degradation of dissolved and particulate organic matter (DOM and POM, respectivley) and their interaction in the water column. So far remineralization rates of fresh DOM are unknown. Currently, the interaction of POM and DOM in the water column is poorly understood due to the complexity of organic matter. Combining tracer experiments and new analytical approaches such as FT-ICR-MS, we will gain new insights into POM and DOM cycling. This work is a collaborative effort with the mathematical modeling group to verify existing POM sinking and remineralization models and ultimately to place experimental results into a global carbon cycle perspective.