Current Research. My interests are related to microorganisms and their interactions with each other and the surrounding environment. In my lab currently, we are researching:
1. How best to preserve the gut microbiome. Specifically we are studying fecal matter and its preservation for use in fecal matter transplants (FMTs). Ultimately, we’d like to advance personalized medicine by being able to restore a healthy microbiome in individuals whose microbiome has been disrupted by illness or medical treatments.
Check out this great video on FMTs! video
Projects we have pursued in my lab include:
- Studying how microorganisms found in the oral cavity (mouth & teeth) differ between Old Order Amish individuals compared to western non-Amish individuals, and
- Studying how environmental factors and exposures times lead to changes in the skin microbiome.
2. How C. elegans (nematode) can be used to study microbiomes. Specifically we are using the model organism, C. elegans, to determine how changes to diet and microbial exposure impacts their physiology and life cycle. Ultimately, we’d like to establish a canine microbiome model with C. elegans.
