Research in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics explores how microbes, genes and cells function across diverse biological systems. Key areas of study include microbial physiology and metabolism, host-microbe interactions, gene regulation, genome stability, DNA repair and recombination, chromosome biology, aging, cancer and immunology. Faculty use microbial and non-microbial models to investigate fundamental biological processes and their roles in health, disease, agriculture and the environment. Through interdisciplinary approaches in microbiology, genetics, biochemistry, genomics and cell biology, the department drives discoveries that expand our understanding of life and inform advances in medicine and biotechnology.
