Microbiology and Microbial Ecology
The Microbiology and Microbial Ecology faculty in the Department of Biology is a diverse group of scientists investigating microbial biology at gene to ecosystem scales. We are a highly interactive and collaborative group that uses a wide range of approaches—including genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic sequencing; bioinformatics; microscopy; biochemical analyses; field, laboratory, and culture-based experiments—to better understand the functioning of microbes in diverse environments. Our faculty leverage both model and non-model microbial, animal, plant, and soil systems to address research questions in the following areas:
- Response and feedback of microbes to global change
- Ecology and evolution of plant-microbe interactions
- Role of soil microbes in terrestrial biogeochemistry
- Eco-evolutionary dynamics in microbial communities
- Microbial community assembly and functional diversity
- Host immune responses to microbial pathogens
- Microbial self-organizing behavior and population dynamics
Members of our group interact and collaborate with researchers from neighboring campuses in Syracuse (SUNY ESF, Upstate) that have a shared interest in microbes through regular meetings of the SU Microbial Biology Network (MBN) and the Global Change Ecology Network (GCEN)
Biology faculty members affiliated with Microbiology and Microbial Ecology
Yasir Ahmed-Braimah
Assistant Professor
Email: yahmed@syr.edu
Phone: 315.443.1564
David M. Althoff
Associate Professor and Associate Chair
Email: dmalthof@syr.edu
Phone: 315.443.1096
Katie M. Becklin
Assistant Professor
Email: kmbeckli@syr.edu
Phone: 315.443.2155
Steve Dorus
Professor
Email: sdorus@syr.edu
Phone: 315.443.7091
Christopher W. Fernandez
Assistant Professor
Email: cferna10@syr.edu
Phone: 315.443.3098
Louis James (Jamie) Lamit
Assistant Professor
Email: ljlamit@syr.edu
Phone: 315.443.3760
Sarah Kathleen Lucas
Assistant Professor
Email: sklucas@syr.edu
Phone: 315.443.1465
Angela M. Oliverio
Assistant Professor
Email: amoliver@syr.edu
Ramesh Raina
Professor
Email: raraina@syr.edu
Phone: 315.443.4546
Roy D. Welch
Professor
Email: rowelch@syr.edu
Phone: 315.443.7197