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.
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.
Bacterially-Produced Neurotransmitters
To explore how changes in the composition of the gut microbiome may affect the brain and behavior, we are using the microscopic worm C. elegans as a representative model organism. The mutant strain cat-2 has a genetic dopamine deficiency, leading to known changes in locomotion; by feeding these worms E. coli that produce L-DOPA, the precursor to dopamine, we aim to restore their behavior. This system may have implications for how we understand neurodegenerative diseases characterized by neurotransmitter deficiencies, such as Parkinson’s.
Selected Past Projects
A selection of projects our lab has worked on, ranging from the impact of climate change on microbial communities in permafrost to the role of microbes in modern ooid formation and others.