University of Guam student Juliana Amber Valencia helped describe a new diatom species and presented the findings at the 2026 SACNAS Annual Conference in Long Beach, California. Her mentor, UOG Professor Emeritus of Biology Christopher S. Lobban, Ph.D., and their poster, “Splitting the Diatom Genus Mastogloia: First Phylogenetically Significant Character,” also suggest that a tiny, overlooked structure shared by the new species could help scientists reorganize one of the largest groups of marine diatoms.