Microbial Ecology and Evolution at the University of Washington

The University of Washington is home to a large, dynamic and diverse community of scientists engaged in understanding the ecology, evolution, physiology and impact of the microbial world.

Microorganisms are ubiquitous and are the most abundant and potentially most diverse organisms in the biosphere. They play critical roles in many ecosystem processes and their interactions with other organisms can have important consequences for the diversity, ecology, physiology and evolution of macro-organisms. Our community of scientists interested in microbial science spans ecology, evolution, molecular biology, biogeochemistry, oceanography, environmental engineering, genomics, symbioses and the health sciences.

We encourage interested undergraduate and graduate students to learn more about microbial science at the University of Washington by contacting any of the faculty listed below. We are in a variety of departments. Prospective graduate students should consult individual department guidelines for admission details.

Faculty

Seana Davidson
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering

• Symbiosis

Jody Deming
School of Oceanography

Russ Herwig
School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences

• Aquatic microbiology, microbial ecology and diversity, bioremediation
• http://fish.washington.edu/herwig

Claire Horner-Devine
School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences

• Microbial ecology, community ecology, diversity and ecosystem function, biogeography, phylogenetic diversity
• http://fish.washington.edu/horner-devine

Ben Kerr
Department of Biology

• Disease evolution, rock-paper-scissors, evolutionary ecology
• http://beaker.biology.washington.edu/people/benkerr.htm

John Leigh
Department of Microbiology

• Methanogenic Archaea
• http://faculty.washington.edu/leighj/

Mary Lidstrom
Department of Chemical Engineering/Department of Microbiology

• Methylotrophy, ecogenomics, single-cell analysis
• https://depts.washington.edu/mllab/

Gabrielle Rocap
School of Oceanography

• Ecology and evolution of marine cyanobacteria
• http://rocaplab.ocean.washington.edu/people/gabrielle

Bob Morris
School of Oceanography

• Microbiology, ecology
• http://faculty.washington.edu/morrisrm/

Seminars

The following seminar series maybe of interest:

• SAFS Seminar
• Bio Ocean
• Oceans and Human Health
• Microbiology
• Astrobiology
• Biology

Photo Gallery

Group-specific fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) of Pirellula cells attached to a diatom. Autofluorescence of a diatom (left, large circles) and probe positive cells (left, small circles), DAPI staining particles (center), and merged probe and DAPI images (right).

Depicted at right are two different populations of bacteria that inhabit the nephridia (kidneys) of earthworms.

Mobile laboratory for field work in Brazil as part of a diversity study of earthworm bacterial symbionts.