Projects
We investigate the impact of microbiome diversity, dynamics, and function on human and environmental health. We seek to understand how microbiomes detect, process, and respond to environmental signals and how microbial populations evolve in response to environmental pressures. Working across ecosystems, our work is grounded in microbial ecology and biogeochemistry and draws on computational and data science, as well as experimental data.
Early-life Microbiome and (Neuro)development
How does the infant gut microbiome shape early brain development? Our lab investigates how microbial communities assemble in the first years of life and how microbial functions relate to neurodevelopmental outcomes. Working with longitudinal cohorts including Khula (South Africa) and ECHO/RESONANCE (US), we have shown that early gut microbiome composition and metabolic potential are linked to brain structure, cognition, and visual cortical development. We also developed a high-resolution microbiome age model that identifies conserved patterns of infant microbial succession across the globe, providing a benchmark for gut maturation.
Microbes and Nutrient Cycling
Microorganisms drive many biogeochemical cycles in redox-stratified environments. We aim to characterize the microorganisms involved in the degradation of complex organic matter and to determine how these microorganisms contribute to the cycling of nutrients such as carbon, sulfur, and manganese in a permanently stratified lake like Green Lake.
Lake Waban as a living laboratory
Our backyard lake, Lake Waban (Wellesley, MA), is an ideal site for long-term investigations. Recently, we installed a continuous monitoring system that captures environmental parameters in real time, including pH, conductivity, and temperature. This work catalyzes collaborations with other Wellesley faculty across disciplines and new opportunities for involving undergraduates in interdisciplinary research and teaching on the Wellesley College campus.
Microbes in Wellesley
The Global Flora is a new addition to the Wellesley campus, which houses a wide variety of plant collections across different biomes: humid, temperate, and dry. We are exploring how microbes play a role in this diverse ecosystem. From characterizing the soil microbiome to investigating spore-forming bacteria, we are interested in the relationships between soil microbial communities present in the recently renovated greenhouse.
