Humans usually recognize the impact of microbes on their lives through an infectious disease or spoiled food, but microorganisms have far more important beneficial effects. Microbes are responsible for producing foods (wine, cheese, and bread) and biofuels (ethanol, CH4, H2), degrading toxic compounds, recycling organic material, and driving biogeochemical cycles in nature. Our capacity to appreciate them is based on the limited number of microbial species in isolation. Owing to molecular biology techniques, we know that many more microbial species are waiting to be discovered. The research program in our laboratory is guided by the following specific questions:
1) How is the genetic diversity of a species reflected in its habitat abundance pattern?
2) What biological, chemical, and physical forces shape spatial and temporal patterns of species distribution?
3) What are the genomic features (genes, regulatory sequences, gene copy number, etc.) responsible for the ecological outcome of a species?
To answer these questions, our laboratory has been using a combination of genomic, proteomic, and physiological experimental data to study microbial phylogenetic and functional diversification. Results from this work have broad implications to basic research in evolutionary biology and ecology, and applied aspects, such as conservation policies for natural and agricultural ecosystems.
1) How is the genetic diversity of a species reflected in its habitat abundance pattern?
2) What biological, chemical, and physical forces shape spatial and temporal patterns of species distribution?
3) What are the genomic features (genes, regulatory sequences, gene copy number, etc.) responsible for the ecological outcome of a species?
To answer these questions, our laboratory has been using a combination of genomic, proteomic, and physiological experimental data to study microbial phylogenetic and functional diversification. Results from this work have broad implications to basic research in evolutionary biology and ecology, and applied aspects, such as conservation policies for natural and agricultural ecosystems.
Laboratory News
July 2023 - We welcome Julia to our lab! She is a postdoctoral researcher working on methane emissions in the Amazon wetlands.
June 2023 - Laibin had an excellent paper published in the highly prestigious journal Environmental Science & Technology. He will be joining the faculty of Saint Louis University this coming Fall. Great accomplishments. Congratulations!
April 2023 - Eno and Grace presented their research work at the UC Davis Undergraduate Conference. Wonderful job! Jordan just published an exciting paper in Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. Way to go!
April 2023 - David received the prestigious USDA-NIFA fellowship award. Congratulations for this amazing accomplishment, David!
April 2023 - We would like to welcome Mavis and Aaron to our lab!
Mar 2023 - Dr. Jordan Sayre our most sincere congratulations on your wonderful Dissertation seminar. Well done Dr. Sayre!
Feb 2023 - Three new publications from our research in high profile journals: Trends in Microbiology, Communications Biology, and Molecular Ecology. Thanks to the hard work of our students and collaborators!
Feb 2023 - Congratulations Dr. Danielson! Rachel received her well-deserved Doctor of Philosophy degree with flying colors.
Jan 2023 - New publication from our collaboration with Dr. Dahlke's group. Congratulations to Elad. Keep an eye for an exciting paper from Laibin soon.
Sept 2022 - Eno and Danilo, welcome to UC Davis and our lab! We are honored to have you both here with us.
July 2022 - Jonathan Lin, PhD. That reads really well. Very deserving Dr. Jon!
July 2022 - A wonderful review about microbial communities in the Amazon published by Rachel.
December 2020 - LEAPS - Leadership Excellence Across Practice and Sciences. If you are applying for Graduate School, you should check this out! Funds are available for selected students: https://soilecogenomicslabs.weebly.com/leaps.html
June 2023 - Laibin had an excellent paper published in the highly prestigious journal Environmental Science & Technology. He will be joining the faculty of Saint Louis University this coming Fall. Great accomplishments. Congratulations!
April 2023 - Eno and Grace presented their research work at the UC Davis Undergraduate Conference. Wonderful job! Jordan just published an exciting paper in Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. Way to go!
April 2023 - David received the prestigious USDA-NIFA fellowship award. Congratulations for this amazing accomplishment, David!
April 2023 - We would like to welcome Mavis and Aaron to our lab!
Mar 2023 - Dr. Jordan Sayre our most sincere congratulations on your wonderful Dissertation seminar. Well done Dr. Sayre!
Feb 2023 - Three new publications from our research in high profile journals: Trends in Microbiology, Communications Biology, and Molecular Ecology. Thanks to the hard work of our students and collaborators!
Feb 2023 - Congratulations Dr. Danielson! Rachel received her well-deserved Doctor of Philosophy degree with flying colors.
Jan 2023 - New publication from our collaboration with Dr. Dahlke's group. Congratulations to Elad. Keep an eye for an exciting paper from Laibin soon.
Sept 2022 - Eno and Danilo, welcome to UC Davis and our lab! We are honored to have you both here with us.
July 2022 - Jonathan Lin, PhD. That reads really well. Very deserving Dr. Jon!
July 2022 - A wonderful review about microbial communities in the Amazon published by Rachel.
December 2020 - LEAPS - Leadership Excellence Across Practice and Sciences. If you are applying for Graduate School, you should check this out! Funds are available for selected students: https://soilecogenomicslabs.weebly.com/leaps.html
Research
Research interests in our lab vary from genes and molecules to microbial communities to ecosystems. These ecosystems also vary in size from small (soil aggregates) to large (tropical forests).
Amazon Rainforest
How do microbes respond to land use change?
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Systems Biology
How do different microbial ecotypes co-exist?
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Agricultural
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Our Outreach
We value Science and Education and we are fully committed to translating our scientific findings to the general public. Over the years, our laboratory has taken steps to discuss and provide information about soil microbial communities and their multiple functions to the public.
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