Welcome
Our research program is housed within the Biology Department at Syracuse University. Our lab also affiliated with the ‘Big Data and Data Analytics’ research cluster at SU – a multidisciplinary group of labs that collaborate on computational questions across genomics, bioinformatics, computer sciences, physics. We aim to understand what mechanisms drive the ecological and evolutionary dynamics observed in microbial systems across a range of environments. To address these questions, we use an integrative approach combining large-scale lab and field experiments, functional ‘omics, and modeling. Currently, our work focuses on the ecology and evolution of microbes (including protists!). To learn more, head over to our research page.
Recent Lab News
December, 2025: New preprint led by Beryl Rappaport “A geothermal amoeba sets a new upper temperature limit for eukaryotes” and associated media coverage from Nature and Scientific American
November, 2025: New paper led by undergrad Joanna Lepper out here in ISME J “Half of microbial eukaryote literature focuses on only 12 human parasites”
October, 2025: Article from Syracuse University here highlighting some of our lab’s recent NSF and NASA funded research on extremophiles.
Summer, 2025: We just wrapped up 2025 summer sampling campaigns at Lassen Volcanic and Yellowstone National Parks for research projects funded by NSF and NASA. Stay-tuned!
June, 2025: Paper led by PhD student Rachel Shepherd “The Biogeography of Apicomplexan Parasites in Tropical Soils” out here in Ecology & Evolution.
September, 2024: Paper led by PhD student Beryl Rappaport “Genomics and synthetic community experiments uncover the key metabolic roles of acetic acid bacteria in sourdough starter microbiomes” out here in mSystems.
For more, see previous lab news
oliveriolab.org 