December 5, 2006: Interdisciplinary Speed Networking
Dr. Rytas Vilgalys
Full Professor, Biology
fungi@duke.edu
1. Please briefly describe your research and the way in which it is interdisciplinary. I am a mycologist, with interests in all aspects of fungal biology. Our laboratory uses the techniques of molecular biology as well as more conventional approaches (culturing, mating studies, etc.) to answer questions about the natural history of fungi. Research areas include: 1) molecular taxonomy, 2) population genetics and speciation; and 3) molecular-based monitoring of fungi in the environment. Molecular systematics research involves studies on phylogenetic relationships in fungi, including mushrooms (basidiomycetes), as well as the earliest fungal lineages (part of NSF's Tree-of-Life Project, which aims to reconstruct the earliest events in the evolution of animals and fungi). Population genetic studies are aimed at elucidating mating systems and life history in wild mushroom species as well as symbiotic fungi and also human pathogens. Our ecological studies on fungal communities employ state-of-the-art technologies such as high-throughput sequencing, microarrays, and bioinformatics to study how microbial communities respond to environmental change. This work involves extensive collaboration with ecologists from Duke and elsewhere.
2. How would you recommend that a student to learn more about your research? Our lab's Web page contains information about the various projects we are currently pursuing.
3. What kinds of interdisciplinary connections are you interested in making at Duke? Our lab has been collaborating with several groups across campus. Here are some examples: 1. Duke Medical Center.- Our lab is a member of the Duke University Mycology Research Unit, which is based in the Dept. of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology. I work with Dr. Tom Mitchell, Joe Heitman, and Fred Dietrich on a variety of projects to study population genetics of medically important fungi, including the human pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. 2. We also collaborate with several ecology labs within the Nicholas School of the Environment, and the School of Engineering. These studies employ DNA-based methods to study microbial ecology, in Duke Forest and elsewhere. Our lab hosts several graduate students from the University Graduate Program in Ecology, who are working with my graduate students to apply molecular tools for the study of microbial communities.
4. In what ways can you see a graduate student from another group or discipline fit into what you discussed above? I have had several students from the Med Ctr and NSOE do rotation projects in my lab. This is the best way to learn new techniques and apply them for your own research projects
5. What skills or expertise would help you move forward in your research? While we possess considerable skills in the area of molecular biology, my lab can always use more help with bioinformatics/biocomputing. Many of the most important questions in biology today require a working knowledge of biology, as well as informatics.
6. Who are the people at Duke that you collaborate with on interdisciplinary work or have regular discussions about your research? See above. I regularly interact with faculty from several schools at Duke.
Last Updated (by wat@duke.edu): 11/27/2006