I study mutualism and symbiosis. ‘Symbiosis’ means two species live together, while ‘mutualism’ means two species benefit each other. Symbioses are often, but not always, mutualisms, and vice versa. Without mutualism and symbiosis, life on Earth would look radically different. Symbiotic microorganisms (the ‘microbiome’) affect the health, development, physiology, ecology, and evolution of most plants and animals, including humans. Mutualism and symbiosis also underpin many critical ecosystem functions, such as pollination, biological nitrogen fixation, and photosynthesis in coral reefs. My research aims to understand how mutualism and symbiosis have shaped the evolution of life on Earth, and how these interactions continue to affect biodiversity in the Anthropocene.

I began my career studying ant-plant symbiosis in tropical rainforests, but as my lab has grown, we’ve branched out to study a wide range of plant-animal and host-microbe mutualisms. Currently, I am developing a high-throughput experimental model of host-microbiome interactions using a tiny, fast-growing aquatic plant, duckweed (Lemna minor), and its microbes. I am also writing a book that synthesizes mutualism and microbiome research.