Funding and Awards

Emily Van Syoc, Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Biology

Taejung Chung, PhD Candidate in Food Science

Van Syoc and Chung have illustrated outstanding leadership within the OHMC community.

Van Syoc dedicated her time to the community by volunteering at the Microbiome Kickstart Workshop, sharing her expertise and helping to train fellow members, as well as taking on the role of trainee organizer for the Fall 2022 OHMC Seminar Series (MBIOM 550). During her time as the seminar organizer, Van Syoc designed communication and organizational templates and standards that continue to guide current seminar organizers. Beyond her formal contributions, she has served as a cornerstone of support and guidance for fellow graduate students. Van Syoc's active involvement in organizing journal clubs and her role as a mentor have been invaluable to the growth of her peers. Her exceptional work ethic and positive attitude have set an inspiring example for other trainees, making her a role model in the community.

Chung's leadership has left a transformative impact on the OHMC community. Since co-founding the Microbiome Data Analysis Working Group (DAWG) in 2018, he has played a pivotal role in advancing microbiome data analysis training at Penn State. Under Chung's guidance, this group has conducted 14 successful DAWG workshops, providing training to over 100 members from 12 different Penn State departments. Chung adapted these workshops into online accessible formats, further expanding their value. Notably, he has also provided direct support for data projects, resulting in collaborative publications that have enriched the scientific landscape. Chung's commitment to empowering others through computational training and support has been a driving force in the community.

Sarah Richards, PhD Student, Dual Title in Ecology & International Agriculture & Development

Richards is being recognized for pursuing a novel path to a Ph.D and for her impressive international research. She is the first Ecology student to enroll in the International Agriculture and Development (INTAD) dual title program, and is driven by her commitment to translate soil microbiome research into global management solutions. She spearheaded an independent study on Collaborative Learning Schools (CLS) aimed at boosting community participation in sustainable food production, going on to receive funding to continue CLS work in Uganda during the summer. Furthermore, Richards has showcased exceptional leadership by expanding her soil microbiome investigation by performing parallel cover crop experiments at Penn State and in Costa Rica. Notably, her research in Costa Rica utilizes native Costa Rican cover crops and prioritizes socio-economic impacts – defying conventional expectations.

Mary Ann Bruns, Professor of Soil Microbiology & Biogeochemistry, Department of Ecosystem Science & Management.

Bruns has served as a major pillar in the OHMC community, from participating in initiating its development to serving on the executive committee. As an esteemed mentor, her guidance has helped shape the academic journeys of countless trainees and faculty. Her skilled scientific expertise, understanding of the research landscape, and extensive academic experience give her the tools to help drive success, but it is her generosity, collaborative spirit, and remarkably altruistic nature that has been pivotal in fostering success for many. Bruns’ unwavering support for student initiatives, such as supporting the development of DAWG, underscores her commitment to cultivating the next generation of scientists. She encourages her trainees to explore their independent research interests, unafraid to delve into new techniques and ideas. She played leading roles in developing the dual title PhD in Microbiome Sciences program, as well as the dual title PhD in Biogeochemistry program, demonstrating her dedication to enhancing educational opportunities for students. Moreover, Bruns devotes time to welcoming new faculty, building a nurturing academic environment, and making others feel valued and included. For example, she recently presented at the OHMC’s early career investigator retreat, relaying valuable advice from decades in the making. It is clear that she exemplifies what it means to drive success, contributing to the progress of individuals and long-lasting infrastructure for continuing advancements.

Erika Ganda, Assistant Professor of Food Animal Microbiomes, Department of Animal Sciences

Ganda's research program centers on harnessing the microbiome to enhance animal and human health while addressing antimicrobial resistance. She prioritizes zoonotic diseases, antibiotic-free growth strategies in food production, and the microbiome's role in health. With an active blend of field trials, mechanistic studies, and data analysis, her efforts have yielded substantial community impact, evident in her citation record (1243), h-index (18), and grant awards (≈2 million in research funding), which are exceptional for her career stage. Notably, Ganda’s innovative work includes a parallel sequencing approach for antimicrobial resistance genes profiling (patent pending) and advocating for informed microbiome-based animal production optimization. Moreover, she has developed successful international collaborations with institutes in Kenya, Brazil, and Tanzania. As a leader in the OHMC community, Ganda serves on the OHMC executive committee, awards committee, symposium committee, and the annual Microbiome Kickstart data analysis workshop. Her research and leadership achievements have led to invitations to present her research to the Ambassador of Brazil, Nestor Forester Jr., and the United States Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack.

Nina Camillone, PhD Candidate, Soil Science & International Agriculture & Development

Camillone has exhibited exceptional commitment to community engagement through diverse outreach initiatives. From participating in the "BEST" (Broadening Extension through Student Training) program and organizing several high school outreach events to constructing a soil microbiology museum exhibit with the Macrobes for Microbes graduate student organization. Camillone’s impactful activities also encompass educating a broad range of audiences about the role of microbes in promoting soil health. Notably, she has led international research in Costa Rica where she conducted studies in Spanish, developed bi-lingual user-friendly fact sheets, and presented her work at global forums, actively helping to bridge the gap between scientific experts and farmers. Her efforts have garnered widespread attention, engaging over 150 participants from academia, non-profits, industry, landowners, and policymakers in her presentation at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) virtual symposium on soils for nutrition. Camillone is an exemplary community educator.

Daryl Branford, Director of Science-Art Initiative, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences

Talley Fisher, Senior Research Artist, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences

Michael Tribone, Multimedia Specialist, Department of Entomology, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences

Together, Branford, Fisher, and Tribone comprise Biology’s SciArt team, which explores relationships among microbiology, art, and technology. Their primary objective is to enhance scientific communication on and off campus. Their recent creations include, the BioMachine in the Millennium Science Complex and the Wolbachia Wall presented at Palmer and the Bellefonte Museums of Art. The BioMachine is a digitally interactive giant coronavirus with panel displays and the Wolbachia Wall is a touch sensitive, digital journey into a 100 year story about Wolbachia's origins, biology, and current day applications to control vector-borne diseases. All three awardees exemplify their talents at the intersection of art, design, and science.

• "Harnessing synthetic biology to study adaptive evolution of nitrogen-fixing bacteria"

  • Maria Alejandra Gil Polo, Ph.D. Candidate in Plant Biology, advised by Dr. Liana Burghardt, Assistant Professor in Plant Biology.

• "Assessing the Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines on Respiratory Tract Microbiota in Mice"

  • Abhinay Gontu, Ph.D. Student in Pathobiology, co-advised by Bhushan M. Jayarao, Professor/Suresh Kuchipudi, Professor, and supported by Ruth Nissly, Assistant Research Professor in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences.

• "Microfossil analysis of ancient dental calculus of the Elmina population, Ghana"

  • Iyunoluwa J. Ademola-Popoola, Ph.D. Student in Anthropology, advised by Dr. Laura Weyrich, Associated Professor in Anthropology.

• "Prediction of Phage Susceptibility of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Using Machine Learning"

  • Edwin Omar Rivera-López, Dual Title Ph.D. student in Food Science and Clinical and Translational Sciences, advised by Dr. Edward Dudley, Professor of Food Science.

• "Development of a Granular Hydrogel-Enabled Gut-on-a-Chip Platform for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research''

  • Sina Kherabadi, Ph.D. student in Chemical Engineering, advised by Dr. Amir Sheikhi, Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering.

• "Creating an Integrative Multi-Omics Model for Predicting Drug Metabolism"
  • Nina Boyle, Integrative and Biomedical Physiology PhD student advised by Andrew Patterson, Huck Chair of Molecular Toxicology.
• "Microfluidic Chips to Assess the Motility Abilities of Bundle Forming Cyanobacteria from Biocrusts"
  • Estelle Couradeau, Assistant Professor of Ecosystem Science and Management.
• "Co-culturing of Host and Microbial Cells for Elucidation of Host-Microbiome Interactions"
  • Erica Ryu and Naomi Huntley, Biology PhD Candidates advised by Emily Davenport, Assistant Professor of Biology.
• "Bridging the Gap Between Soil Microbial Communities and Soil Gas Emissions"
  • Jose Raul Roman, Postdoctoral Researcher advised by Estelle Couradeau, Assistant Professor of Ecosystem Science and Management.
• "Mitigation Strategies of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) via Microalgal consortia for sustainable wastewater reuse"
  • Waleed El Sayed, Research Associate advised by Meng Wang, Assistant Professor in Environmental Systems Engineering.
• "Can Fermented Food Microbiomes Be Leveraged for Food Safety and Nutrition Security?"
  • Josephine Wee, Assistant Professor of Food Science.

• "A portable microscope setup for educational outreach (Macrobes for Microbes)"
  • Estelle Couradeau, assistant professor of ecosystem science and management.
  • Chad Fautt, Ecology PhD Candidate
• "Unique Dual Indexes To Drive Microbiome Sequencing at PSU"
  • Jordan Bisanz, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • Justin Silverman, Assistant Professor of Statistics, Medicine, and Information Sciences & Technology
  • Erika Ganda, Assistant Professor of Animal Sciences
  • Emily Davenport, Assistant Professor of Biology