People

Roles: Faculty, Potential MFF (REU) Host, Potential Postdoc Mentor

Research Areas: Agriculture Research, Animal Hosts, Bacteria, Genetics, Genomics and Cell Biology of Infection, Microbiota and Microbiomes, Plant Hosts

We use Bacillus subtilis as a model system to characterize the bacterial stress responses elicited by metal ion limitation and excess during infection, and by host-produced antibiotics that interfere with integrity of the cell envelope. The resulting insights are relevant for understanding the mechanisms that allow bacterial cells (both beneficial and harmful) to adapt to the host environment.

Roles: Faculty, Potential MFF (REU) Host, Potential Postdoc Mentor, Potential Undergraduate Mentor

Research Areas: Agriculture Research, Animal Hosts, Bacteria, Disease Ecology and Evolution, Genetics, Genomics and Cell Biology of Infection, Microbiota and Microbiomes, Plant Hosts

The Hendry lab studies how environmental bacteria interact with insect hosts. Our main focus is understanding how plant-associated bacteria influence the health and behavior of insect herbivores. Students will design mesocosm experiments with culturable bacteria growing on plants and herbivorous insects, using skills in bacteriology and statistical analysis. Experiments could test, for example, how bacterial phenotypes change with environmental conditions and how this impacts insect fitness.

Roles: Faculty

Research Areas: Animal Hosts, Disease Ecology and Evolution, Genetics, Genomics and Cell Biology of Infection, Viruses

I am interested in finding better ways of controlling the mosquito Aedes aegypti, the main vector of dengue and Zika viruses. Specifically, I am interested in determining how they move through their environment and the effect that has on different control strategies. The mosquito virome, the collection of viruses in individual mosquitoes, contains a plethora of information on where each mosquito has been.  Using a combination of population genetics, ecological studies, and modeling techniques I plan to use the Ae. aegypti virome to better understand how Ae. aegypti moves through heterogeneous environments.  This information can then be used to inform the next generation of mosquito control programs.

Roles: Faculty, Potential MFF (REU) Host, Potential Undergraduate Mentor

Research Areas: Fungi, Genetics, Genomics and Cell Biology of Infection, Microbiota and Microbiomes

The Huberman lab uses genetic and genomic techniques to study the genetic mechanisms used by fungi to sense and respond to the nutrients in their environment. Student projects will include performing genetic screens to identify genes important in nutrient sensing and using genetic and genomic tools to characterize the roles of these genes in nutrient sensing.

Roles: Faculty, Potential MFF (REU) Host, Potential Postdoc Mentor, Potential Undergraduate Mentor

Research Areas: Animal Hosts, Bacteria, Genetics, Genomics and Cell Biology of Infection, Microbiota and Microbiomes, Veterinary/Clinical Research

We study how lipids mediate host-microbiome interactions.   A potential student project in the lab involves using techniques developed in the lab to identify novel interactions of saturated fatty acids with the gut microbiome and developing advanced techniques in anaerobic microbial genetics to determine the consequences of these interactions on host phenotypes.

Roles: Faculty

Research Areas: Agriculture Research, Bacteria, Fungi, Microbiota and Microbiomes, Plant Hosts

The goal of the Kao-Kniffin Lab is to understand the functional role of rhizosphere microbiomes in modifying plant traits. The rhizosphere harbors a tremendous diversity of soil microorganisms that enhance or inhibit plant growth. We are applying concepts in ecology and evolution to assemble microbiomes across generations that collectively modulate plant traits or ecosystem function.

Roles: Faculty

Research Areas: Animal Hosts, Disease Ecology and Evolution, Genetics, Genomics and Cell Biology of Infection, Microbiota and Microbiomes, Viruses

Scott’s research investigates how endocrine signaling networks regulate animals’ physiological responses to pathogenic microbes. He uses the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as a genetically tractable model to investigate the mechanisms by which several key insect hormones and their cognate nuclear receptors both directly and indirectly modulate innate immune responses during systemic bacterial infection. Ultimately, his work aims to understand how hormonal regulation of distinct but intertwined physiological traits (namely immunity, metabolism, and reproduction) affects the susceptibility of individuals to infectious disease, and how these regulatory mechanisms might drive adaptive changes in immune system performance across populations.

Roles: CIHMID Postdoc

Research Areas: Bacteria, Disease Ecology and Evolution, Genetics, Genomics and Cell Biology of Infection, Microbiota and Microbiomes

Roles: Faculty

Research Areas: Disease Ecology and Evolution, Fungi, Genetics, Genomics and Cell Biology of Infection, Plant Hosts

Josh’s interest in fungal biology started while earning a BS in Microbiology at the University of Minnesota where he did research on the human fungal pathogens Cryptococcus neoformans and Blastomyces dermatitidis in the Nielsen lab at the University of Minnesota. Josh went on to pursue a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from Dartmouth College where he worked with the human fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus investigating the relationship between metabolism and emergent properties of fungal biofilms, namely antifungal drug resistance. In the Huberman lab Josh is excited to dive further into how cosmopolitan fungi regulate their metabolism to thrive in highly diverse niches, ranging from saprophytic environments, like leaf litter and compost piles, to infections of plants and humans. To accomplish this, he is also eager to develop genomic toolsets in filamentous fungi. Outside of lab Josh enjoys a good board game night, hiking in the woods, going climbing, and playing hockey.

Roles: Faculty, Potential MFF (REU) Host

Research Areas: Agriculture Research, Disease Ecology and Evolution, Genetics, Genomics and Cell Biology of Infection, Microbiota and Microbiomes, Plant Hosts

The research in the Kessler Lab focuses on the ecology and evolution of plant chemical defenses (secondary metabolites) to pathogens and herbivores and the role of soil microbial communities to affect and be affected by plant secondary metabolism. Thus we try to understand how microbially-mediated plant-soil feedbacks influence the macroscopic interactions of plants with their biotic environment.