Research

Microbes are essential drivers of processes that sustain life on Earth. They shape our planet’s biogeochemical cycles, influence health and disease, and form complex ecological networks with other organisms. My research delves into three primary areas—soil biogeochemical cycles (with an emphasis on carbon and nitrogen), antimicrobial resistance, and microbial interactions—shedding light on how microorganisms regulate environmental processes and impact human and planetary health.

Biogeochemistry

In terrestrial ecosystems, microorganisms play a pivotal role in cycling carbon and nitrogen, influencing soil fertility, climate change dynamics, and sustainable agriculture. My aims are:1. Nutrient cycling and climate change: How microbial processes influence carbon sequestration and nitrogen transformations, shaping global climate patterns?2. Ecosystem resistance and resilience: How do changes in land use and temperature affect microbial community composition and function, potentially altering ecosystem services?

Antimicrobial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global concern that threatens public health, agricultural productivity, and biogeochemical cycling. My research focuses on:1. Spatial and temporal spread of resistance: Soils can act as both sink and source of AMR. My interest is in the molecular and ecological mechanisms—such as horizontal gene transfer and microbial community shifts—that facilitate or limit resistance gene movement in space, particularly in agroecosystems, and over time.2. Interaction with soil carbon: AMR can change the identity of the microbes and their function. Can AMR influence soil-C through microbes?

Microbial interactions

Microbes rarely exist in isolation; instead, they form dynamic, interlinked communities. My research focuses on:1. Structure and function: I aim to understand the intricate relationship between microbial structure and function, which is crucial for managing soils sustainably, mitigating antimicrobial resistance, and harnessing beneficial microbial processes.2. Links with insects: Microbes interact with insects to facilitate the decomposition process, which is key to ecosystem functioning and resilience. I am interested in understanding the mechanisms that drive these interactions.

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