Congratulations to our 2019 graduates!
Gut microbes metabolize Parkinson's drug
We are hiring!
The Balskus Lab is searching for a technician to provide experimental support for an ongoing project focused on understanding the vaginal microbiota. Please apply here.
Congratulations to Drs. Schneider & Orman!
Congratulations to Dr. Ben Schneider and Dr. Marina Orman for successfully defending their theses! We are sad to see you go, but we are all excited to see you thrive in the next stage of your career!
Biocatalytic Friedel–Crafts Alkylation
Our recently work about the biocatalytic potential of CylK, a Friedel–Crafts alkylating enzyme, was featured by Nature Catalysis! See the highlight here. Congratulations Erica, Nathaniel, Michael, & Harry!
E. coli toxin linked to colon cancer alkylates DNA
"Cutting in choline"
Our recently published work about how microbes obtain choline was featured by Nature Chemical Biology! See the highlight here. Congratulations Carina!
WGBH Curiosity Desk Feature
Our resident scientist chef and educator, Vayu, was just interviewed about the nature of heat and cooking! Check out the full interview here.
"Gut commensals make choline too!"
Our research was featured a recent News and Views! See the highlight here. Congratulations Carina!
This year's SN10 young researchers
This year marks the fourth year that Science News has highlighted a young group of ten scientists as the SN10 class. We are excited that the 2018 class includes Emily and features some of the ongoing research in our lab. Check out the full class here.
Congratulations Professor Emily Balskus!!
We are thrilled to announce that Emily has been promoted to Professor with tenure at Harvard University! Congratulations on this milestone!
Congratulations to Drs. Koppel, Waldman, & Zha!
Congratulations to Dr. Nitzan Koppel, Dr. Abraham Waldman, and Dr. Li Zha for successfully defending their theses! We are all excited to see you thrive in the next stage of your career!
Research Highlight: Gut Microbiome Inactivates Digoxin
Our recent research in collaboration with the Turnbaugh Lab at UCSF was featured in the eLIFE podcast! Listen to the episode here.
Merrick Named Churchill Scholar
Congratulations to Merrick Pierson Smela on being named a 2018–2019 Churchill Scholar! Merrick spent last summer with us as an undergraduate Amgen Fellow. We are looking forward to all you continue to accomplish Merrick!
Postdoctoral Research Fellow: Microbiome Informatics Research
The Balskus Lab recently received the opportunity to participate as a collaborator in the Merck Research Laboratories Postdoctoral Research Fellow Program. The position will involve working with us and scientists at Merck to study drug metabolism by the human gut microbiota.
Please see the following job posting for more details:
Perspective: The Human Microbiota, Infectious Disease, and Global Health
Take a look at our recent perspective on the relevance of the human microbiota to infectious disease! These complex microbial communities potentially mediate infection risk and disease progression. Congratulations on the great work Abe!
Welcome Beverly!
A warm welcome to Beverly Fu, a graduate student from the CCB program who joined the Balskus Lab this winter!
Review: Engineering Microbial Community Chemistry
A new review from our group highlights prominent examples of characterizing and engineering chemical interactions found within host-associated microbial communities – with an emphasis on the plant-root microbiota and the intestinal microbiota of animals. Great and exciting work Doug! The full review can be accessed here.
Research Highlight: Gut Microbiome Deprives Mice of Key Nutrient
Our recent research in collaboration with the Rey Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison was featured in the Harvard Gazette! Read the full story here.