Biological wastewater treatment systems are ideal models with which to study "eco-systems biology" of microbial communities. Polyphosphate accumulating bacteria are used world-wide to remove phosphorus from wastewater but the most abundant phylogenetically defined group (Candidatus Accumulibacter) cannot be cultured in isolation. I will describe advances in our understanding of Accumulibacter ecophysiology based on comparative genomics […]

Since the term "microscopic plastic" or "microplastics" first appeared in the scientific literature two decades ago, these tiny plastic particles have been detected in virtually every environmental compartment, as well as in various human and animal organs. The discovery of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) deposited in remote regions around the world and even in human […]

Bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, are highly adaptable platforms for molecular biology and bioengineering. We have reported that bacterial pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa likewise use filamentous phages as structural components in bacterial biofilms - slimy, polymeric films that bacteria use to colonize airways, wounds, and other surfaces. In particular, Pf phages organize P. aeruginosa […]

Geomechanics is a branch of engineering and geosciences that studies the mechanical behavior of the subsurface in response to natural forces and human activities. The subsurface is inherently complex and difficult to observe, making geomechanical problems challenging to analyze both theoretically and computationally. These challenges impact engineering applications, limiting the scope of what is achievable. […]