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Read about our research in the Arizona Republic
Microbial systems ecology
We use integrative tools to understand soil microbial ecology and evolution through a systems biology lens. Our work has uncovered new ways microbes contribute to the maintenance of life on Earth. We aim to understand how belowground microbes balance nutrient cycles, mitigate pollutants, influence ecosystem productivity and human health. Our methods depend on the questions, but usually include the following:
01. High throughput microbial cultivation
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Our model organisms live in the environments we’re interested in understanding. We try to entice them into pure culture using classic and cutting-edge methods.
02. Genome-enabled systems biology
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We develop hypotheses about microbial physiology from genome sequences and devise experiments to test these hypotheses in the laboratory using transcriptomics, metabolomics and other approaches.
03. Eco-Evo-physio Genome analyses
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We seek to understand how genomic differences among closely related microbes influences their physiology and as a result their ecology.
04. Ecosystem Genomics
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The laboratory is a highly artificial reductionist environment. Therefore, we try to identify how—or if— the details we learn in the laboratory are relevant in at the community or ecosystem levels.
Harnessing the power of Earth’s tiniest lives
Philosophy
We pride ourselves on training diverse and non-traditional students to be data-driven microbiologists, with an eye toward discovery. We celebrate calmness in the implementation of science. Our mentee training is intentional and science-backed.
We acknowledge our presence and research on Tohono O'odham, Yaqui, Yakina, Tillamook and Siletz lands.
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