Alm:Research

Our lab develops and uses computational and experimental methods to study microbial evolution and ecology. Our computational work uses microbial genome sequences, 16S and metagenomic data, as well as public bacterial genome sequences. Vibrio species are the model experimental system for our study of adaptation to environmental stress conditions. We collaborate with groups studying microbiomes, microbial ecology, genomics, environmental engineering, and human disease, among others.

Current projects:

• Microbiome community composition and dynamics
• Human health and microbiomes
• Detection of horizontal gene transfer among microbes
• Evolution and reconstruction of ancient tRNA synthetases
• Niche dynamics and evolution
• Single-cell isolation and genome sequencing
• Patterns of selection and recombination in bacterial genomes
• Reconciliation of species and gene trees
• Software for assembly and analysis of short read sequencing
• Evolution of microbial gene expression patterns
• Genetic basis of stress adaptation in artificial environments