Professor Siegel's research focuses on the functioning of marine ecosystems on local to global scales using the tools of an applied physicist. He has worked extensively in marine bio-optics, satellite remote sensing, and physical oceanography assessing problems ranging from ocean biogeochemical cycling, pelagic microbial diversity, kelp forest dynamics, benthic-pelagic coupling, and nearshore fisheries management. He is presently the Science Lead of the NASA / NSF supported EXport Processes in the Ocean using RemoTe Sensing (EXPORTS) field campaign.