Susanne Menden-Deuer is fascinated by plankton, even though she can’t see them with the naked eye. As is often true, the small can be mighty: These microscopic ocean creatures make our planet habitable.

Plankton are essential to the ocean’s role in regulating global climate, the air people breathe and marine food webs. In fact, they are a crucial food source to fish and whales.

One type of plankton in particular—the single-celled protists—intrigues Menden-Deuer, so intensely that the International Society of Protistologists recently recognized her research. The prestigious Hutner Prize is given every year to a mid-career scientist for outstanding contributions to the field.

The awards committee heaped praise on the young scientist, saying her “multifaceted approach, combining lab studies of physiology with field studies of growth and grazing rates along with mathematical modeling, has led to significant advances in the understanding of the complexities and importance of protists.’’

She’ll pick up the honor—and give a talk—during a conference in Moscow this summer: “The award reflects the tremendous work members of the Menden-Deuer lab, technician Amanda Montalbano, the students—undergraduate and graduate—and post-doctoral fellows have been doing,’’ she said. “I’m very grateful.’’