Biochemistry assistant professor Ophelia Venturelli recently received funding for her proposal to the Army Research Office Young Investigator Program. Titled “Large-scale mapping and modeling of human gut microbiota stability and activity,” her research project seeks to develop new technologies to study microbiomes.
The United States Army Research Office is part of the Army Research Laboratory, overseen by the Department of Defense. Microbiomes are the collection of microbes — bacteria, viruses, fungi, and more — in a given environment. The human gut microbiome is a popular study area because it relates to human health. Other researchers study the microbiome of plants, animals, or the soil. Microbiomes carry out interesting functions like making antibiotics to attack each other or producing compounds that can be used as biofuel so they are of great interest to biochemists.
The Young Investigator Program’s goal is to support the research of young academic faculty members, particularly those who have had their Ph.D. for less than five years. The three-year award provides $120,000 each year.
Read more about this project and award at the link below.