Our research centers around a range of subjects related to microbial environmental metagenomics, such as bacterial adaptation, horizontal gene transfer, and bioengineering. The scientific questions raised often require novel methodological approaches. Environmental metagenomic techniques have been developed including methods for extracting high molecular weight DNA, construction and high-density screening of clone libraries, microarray analyses, and sequencing.

Fate of Transgenes from Genetically Modified Plants (GMOs)

Lightning Induced Gene Transfer in Soil (click to hear a brief description)

Adaptation to Extreme Environments: The Case of Nickel Rich New Caledonia Soil

Bacterial Adaptation to Chlorinated Compounds (chlorinated solvents, lindane, PCBs). This work has led to applied site remediation. (see a video)

Microbial Fuel Cells (MFC)

Accessing Microbial Diversity for Drug Discovery and Assessing Antibiotic Resistance Gene Dispersion

Horizontal Gene Transfer

Microbial Ecology of Human Digestive Tract

Extremophiles in Polar Regions (e.g., Mercury resistant bacteria in Arctic snow) (click here to see a video)