Research

Our research spans systems biology, genomics, bioinformatics, microbial ecology.

Our lab is interested in elucidating the molecular mechanisms that drive eco-evolutionary dynamics in microbial systems and the consequences of these relationships on system-level functions.

Fundamental questions we ask include:

1. How do microbial communities assemble and what molecular mechanisms control these processes?

2. How will microbially-mediated processes change with global change factors?

To address these questions, our lab uses an integrative approach combining large scale experiments, synthetic microbial systems, theoretical modeling, and functional ‘omics.

(1) Modeling approaches to elucidate the functional contributions and evolutionary strategies of soil microbes.

Current research is focused on understanding these ecological strategies and relationships to ecosystem processes in the context of decomposition of leaf litter across a dozen NEON (National Ecological Observatory Network) sites that span a broad range of geographic, climatic, and soil environments. Previous research has investigated which soil microbes respond to changes in soil temperature (Oliverio et al., 2017, Global Change Biology), and microbial contributions to phosphorus cycling in natural soil systems (Oliverio et al., 2020, mBio).

(2) Determining the molecular mechanisms that drive the eco-evolutionary dynamics of microbial systems via synthetic microbial communities.

We also use a lab-based synthetic microbial ‘model’ system that is easily culturable and can be highly replicated in a lab setting to address fundamental questions in assembly of communities and study microbiome dynamics. Current research in this area is focused on leveraging sourdough starters as a model system to explore eco-evolutionary dynamics. Previously, in collaboration with colleagues at Tufts and NC State, we profiled starters from 500 community scientists (Landis & Oliverio et al., 2021, eLife).

(3) Elucidating the functional contributions of microbial eukaryotes.

We have a particular interest in protists (e.g. single-celled microbial eukaryotes excluding fungi). Previously we have looked at their functional contributions to soils (Oliverio et al., 2020 Science Advances) and their roles in geothermal spring systems (Oliverio et al., 2018 ISMEJ). We are interested in obtaining protist genomes and transcriptomes to further resolve the ecology and evolution of protists in environmental systems.