Research Interests

The plant microbiome includes beneficial microbiota that provide the plant host protection from pathogens, increased nutrient availability and resilience against abiotic stress. Prior investigations of plant microbiomes have mainly focused on bacteria and fungi while largely ignoring viruses, the most abundant biological entities on the planet. In consequence, the prevalence and function of phages (viruses infecting bacteria) in the plant microbiome remain poorly understood. At the DOE Joint Genome Institute, my research broadly focuses on plant-microbial interactions. Specifically, I am currently investigating the quantitative impact of phage genes on root colonization and the molecular underpinnings of a presumptive plant-bacterial-phage interaction.

Selected Publications

LinkedIn Profile
ResearchGate Profile