Bacteria conduct remarkable chemistry. These microorganisms help animals digest food, help plants grow, and synthesize many natural products that are life-saving antibiotics. However, the overuse of antibiotics has resulted in a worldwide antibiotic resistance crisis. My research group integrates biosynthetic chemistry and bacterial genomics to identify new antimicrobial natural products and novel mechanisms to avoid or overcome antibiotic resistance. We also study the chemical interactions between bacteria and the animal and plant hosts to understand how bacterial small molecules affect host biology. Our work will discover unique mechanisms by which bacteria prevent or cause diseases and afford new ways to combat infections.
Awards and Achievements
- National Institutes of Health Pathway to Independence Award
- Rita Allen Foundation Scholars Award
- National Science Foundation CAREER award
- NIH Director's New Innovator Award