Research in the Microbial Adaptation & Evolution Lab explores the ecological and evolutionary processes that shape host-associated and environmental microbiomes under changing conditions.

1. Phyllosphere Microbiomes & Priority Effects

How does the order of species arrival shape the assembly and function of plant-associated microbial communities? Using the plant leaf surface (phyllosphere) and synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) as tractable model systems, we investigate how historical contingency, niche preemption, and niche modification drive colonization resistance and community stability.

2. Microbial Adaptation & Experimental Evolution

Microbes experience rapid environmental fluctuations and biotic interactions. We combine experimental evolution with genomics and phenotypic assays to track how bacterial populations adapt to novel hosts, competing microbes, and environmental stressors over evolutionary timescales.

3. Multi-Omics & Functional Microbiome Dynamics

Moving beyond taxonomic surveys, our group integrates 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, shotgun metagenomics, and metatranscriptomics to link community composition with active gene expression and metabolic function across diverse ecosystems.