DrJamie Foster

A long-standing question in the field of microbial ecology and astrobiology is how do biological ecosystems co-evolve with their environment, thereby driving the evolution of life and influencing Earth’s habitability? My research group delineates and characterizes these reciprocal interactions, to improve our understanding of how these feedbacks between microbes and their environment help shape community structure and ecosystem function. By studying these combined variables my group has identified patterns and made predictions regarding the dynamic interactions between life and its environment. Additionally, my research program examines the impact of the space environment, specifically microgravity, on microbe-animal interactions. By understanding the effects of microgravity on beneficial microbes we can provide critical insight into astronaut health decreasing their potential risk during long-duration space exploration.

The larger overarching goals of my research program are to: 1) more fully understand the co-evolution of microbial life with its environment and how these processes affect Earth’s habitability; 2) improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that microbes use to adapt and respond to changes in the environment; and 3) examine the effects of spaceflight on healthy animal-microbe interactions; and 4) use synthetic biology to improve biomanufacturing of key therapuetics in the space environment.