Computational Analysis, Theory, and Statistics

CATS group photo

New insights into microbiome research can be realized by viewing old data with a new lens.  Several of our core Center members are developing novel computation and statistical techniques and tools to examine big data sets. 

To see an example of how our Center provides workshops on computational and statistical analyses of microbiome data sets, check out our GitHub page on previous and upcoming workshops, including our annual Kick-Start Bioinformatics workshop for incoming graduate students.

Faculty Working in Computational Analysis, Theory, and Statistics

Jordan Bisanz

Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
The interface of microbiology and bioinformatics, with approaches including genomics and metabolomics to investigate the interplay of diet, drugs, and the gut microbiome.

Elizabeth Boyer

Professor of Environmental Science
Hydrology, Biogeochemistry, Environmental Systems, Water Quality.

Maurice Byukusenge

Assistant Clinical Professor

Fernanda Iruegas Bocardo

Assistant Research Professor
The evolutionary history of bacterial plant pathogens using population biology and genomic epidemiology frameworks to solve questions about their emergence, host range and virulence.

Camelia Kantor

Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives; Research Professor
Camelia Kantor is a highly interdisciplinary geospatial researcher and integrator. Before joining Huck, her prior work involved HBCU teaching, research and training and national security related program assessment and management. Her research interests are at the intersection of geospatial, life sciences, and business. Since 2010, she has been a frequent speaker, conference lead, and academic program evaluator.

Imhoi Koo

Associate Research Professor
Develop pipeline and algorithms of metabolomics data processing.

David Koslicki

Chair, Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Bioinformatics and Genomics; Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering and Biology
Developing efficient algorithms to extract insight from high-throughput sequencing data.

Ipsita Mohanty

Assistant Professor of Pharmacology
At the Mohanty Lab, we seek to decode the chemical language of the microbiome, uncovering how microbial metabolites act as signals that shape host health and disease. By integrating advanced mass spectrometry, large-scale data science, repository-scale mining, machine learning, and biochemical approaches, we aim to systematically map and interpret these molecular messages. Our work focuses on how diet, aging, inflammation, and metabolic diseases rewire this chemical dialogue, with the goal of transforming our ability to read, predict, and ultimately modulate host-microbiome interactions.

Veronica Roman-Reyna

Assistant Professor of Global Change Pathology
I work on understanding how plant-associated microbes change in agricultural systems.

Ashley Shade


Environmental microbiome resilience and the ecological mechanisms that support stable microbial functions within ecosystems facing climate change

Justin Silverman

Associate Professor of Information Sciences and Technology
Statistical methods for the analysis of biomedical data (or any other interesting data/questions)

Guy Townsend

Associate Professor of Molecular & Precision Medicine
My laboratory investigates mechanisms facilitating bacterial colonization of the mammalian intestine to understand how and why the gut microbiome changes during disease.

Andres Valdez

Assistant Research Professor
Studies the interactions between Bacteria, Nutrients, and Phage in physically structured domains.