My research interests fall broadly in the area of microbiology. Two current focus areas of my work are molecular microbial ecology and understanding the mechanisms of microbial evolution. 

Molecular microbial ecology entails the application of molecular tools to questions about microbial lifestyles in terrestrial and aquatic environments. Ongoing projects in this area include: understanding the key forces that shape microbial communities in contaminated and pristine soils, examining the impact of acid rain on microbial populations in Adirondack State Park lakes, evaluating a novel method to assess microbial activity in various environments, molecular characterization of methane-oxidizing bacteria in forest soils (with collaborators at Copenhagen University), and examining the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in natural environments.

Another research area deals with understanding the mechanisms of microbial evolution.  My previous work in this area focused on experimental evolution of E. coli populations maintained in nutrient-limited environments for many generations. A key interest area is to continue an examination of the phenotypic and genetic changes in these populations (they are currently stored frozen at the University of Michigan Biology Department).  Another focus area involves examining how environmentally important microbes evolve in response to natural conditions such as those found in soil.