Overview
We have broad interests in using microbial genomics to understand how microbes interact with each other and their hosts. This interest includes the roles played by both beneficial and harmful bacteria, fungi, and viruses and how they interact with the immune system. We study single microbes and microbial communities, primarily using high-throughput sequencing methods. We have a particular interest in developing new experimental and analytical methods that leverage the power of high-throughput sequencing. We are also interested in using deep learning in microbiology research.
Current Duke Appointments & Affiliations
Assistant Professor in Biostatistics & Bioinformatics
·
2021 - Present
Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Division of Integrative Genomics,
Biostatistics & Bioinformatics
Recent Scholarly Works
Transmission from sink to patient: an evaluation of sink generated bioaerosols and their role in hospital acquired bacterial infections
Journal article Journal of Aerosol Science · September 1, 2026 Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) pose a significant public health risk. Hospital sinks and associated plumbing are one likely source. This study investigates bioaerosol emissions from sink P-traps during faucet operation to assess their potential ro ... Full text CiteBranched chain amino acid metabolism and microbiome in adolescents with obesity during weight loss therapy.
Journal article J Clin Invest · July 15, 2026 BACKGROUNDObesity and weight loss in adults have been associated with distinct metabolome and gut microbiome features, but the extent to which those associations apply to adolescent stages remain unclear.METHODSThe Pediatric Obesity Microbiome and Metaboli ... Full text Link to item CiteFrom external-input sensitivity to resident persistence: community assembly in a sink p-trap model.
Preprint · May 14, 2026 Microbial habitats that receive repeated external input may not remain shaped by that input forever if local retention allows resident communities to build up over time. Here, we used a controlled bench-scale sink p-trap system to examine how community ass ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Training Grant
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2026 - 2031Quantitative Methods for HIV/AIDS Research
ResearchTraining Faculty · Awarded by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2018 - 2028NSF Engineering Research Center for Precision Microbiome Engineering (PreMiEr)
ResearchInvestigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2022 - 2027View All Grants
Education
Johns Hopkins University ·
2006
Ph.D.