Current Members
Melissa Duhaime
Principle Investigator | Pronouns: she/they view CV 
Associate Professor, University of Michigan
Postdoc, Sullivan Lab, University of Arizona
PhD, Max Planck Instit. for Mar. Microbiology, 2010, with distinction
MSc, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, 2007
B.A., Biology - Microbiology, Cornell University, 2005
Rachel Cable
Graduate Student
Interests: Conservation; hand-picking microplastics out of the Great Lakes, one piece at a time.
Lizy Michaelson
Lab Manager and Research Support
Interests: I am an environmental microbiologist learning to apply principles of aquatic ecosystem ecology to study plastics pollution as an ecological disturbance.
Skyler Har
Graduate Student
Interests: I am interested in discovering the different ways microbes use plastic as a substrate and how ecological theory informs the processes of plastics degradation and material transformation. My research applies multi-omics techniques to characterize the composition of “Plastic Soup” and the microbes that metabolize it.
Dr. Armun Liaghat
Postdoctoral scholar
Interests: Applying quantitative biology to explore the coevolution of microbes and viruses. In my postdoc project I am integrating multiomics data from aquatic ecosystems with mathematical models to predict microbial traits in the Southern Ocean and Lake Erie to explore how population dynamics and network interactions drive ecosystem function.
James Mullet
Graduate Student, Civil Env Engineering
co-advised with Krista Wigginton
Interests: My research examines the ecology of viruses in the environment and using them to improve water treatment and public health. I analyze phage-host interactions using ‘omics and PCR-based approaches, often with large computational datasets. I hope to use these interactions to improve water-based surveillance systems. Outside of research, I really enjoy public speaking, outreach, and science communication. I also enjoy hiking, drinking tea, reading, and going to concerts!
Erica Gardner
Guest Graduate Student, Chem Engineering
Lin Lab
Interests: I work at the intersection of chemical engineering, microbial ecology, and sustainability to develop biological solutions to plastic pollution. In the lab, I study polystyrene biodegradation by the gut microbiomes of insect larvae, using a combination of culturing, sequencing, and polymer analysis techniques. I am also working on using lifecycle assessment to inform development of biological plastic upcycling technologies. I love to look through microscopes, code in R, and macgyver lab devices from things lying around. Outside of lab I like to garden, do arts and crafts, and pet dogs.
Liam Estill
Undergraduate Researcher
Interests: Studying the degradation of plastics by "wild microbes" sourced from varied environmental systems.
Zoeya Ali
Undergraduate Researcher
Interests: In lab, I use molecular techniques to study microbial plastics degradation. Outside of lab, I love being creative and exploring biology and other interests through art (mostly painting)!
Kelly Egusa, MSc
Researcher
Interests: I am developing a survey tool to collect the data that can help tell the story Michigan’s natural fiber and textile supply chain. In collaboration with Michigan Fibershed and Fibershed.org, I am working to identify the farmers, artisans, mills, retailers, makers, and innovators working with natural fibers and dyes. Our goal is to share insights into the strengths, gaps, and opportunities in Michigan’s bioregional fiber economy.
Dr. Eric Bastien (Ph.D. '25)
Collaborating Scientist; Bioinformatician (Locus Biosciences)
Interests: My main research focus is to transform coffee into bioinformatics tools and approaches to study virus-host infection networks (VHINs) from environmental samples. I developed Virus Infection Predictions (VIP) to resolve VHINs in silico, and I am now interested in the application of network thinking/theory to better understand viruses’ impact on their microbial communities. When I am not staring at my spaghetti code, I enjoy cooking, running, nature, and anything remotely nerdy (DnD, board games!)
Dr. A.J Wing (Ph.D. '23)
Collaborating Scientist; Lecturer (Bioinformatics)
Interests: I am primarily interested in the role of phages in Great Lakes harmful algal blooms (HABs). Through omics-based techniques, I determine how phage influence the rise and demise of HABs from a community and population-level perspective. I use CRISPR-Cas system trends and host-phage gene transfer to understand infection histories and the metabolic impacts phage may have on their hosts. I carry a strong passion for scientific communication and public outreach in search of the next generation of stewards to protect our Great Lakes. When I’m not navigating the command line matrix, I’m immersed in home-improvement projects, hiking, farming, all things football, and reminiscing with friends old and new.
Dr. Morgan Lindback (Ph.D. '24)
Collaborating Scientist; Postdoc USC
Interests: I study marine microbial ecology and evolution with a focus on viruses. I use lab, computational, and theoretical approaches to address how marine microbes influence biogeochemical cycles. I specialize in multo-omics approaches, population-level laboratory, experiments, and large metagenomic data analysis. I’m always learning and am particularly interested in gaining skills related to stable isotope probing, nanoSIMS, and thermodynamic models of infection. I enjoy sharing my science with the public, mentoring students, collaborating, and practicing open science. I also enjoy fermenting, moving in nature, reading cheesy detective novels, and spending time with other humans.
Former Lab Members
- Max Murray, Univ Chicago PhD student
- Dr. Jessica Choi, Dow staff scientist
- Adi Mizrahi, undergraduate researcher
Isabelle Montilla, undergraduate researcher- Agniva Bhaumik, undergraduate researcher
- Lute Smith, undergraduate researcher
- Dr. Shannon Flynn, visiting professor Oakland Community College
- Safura Syed, undergraduate researcher
James Riddell, PhD student Ohio State
Bridget Hegarty, assistant professor Case Western
Katie Langenfeld, PhD Duhaime Lab 2022 (joint CEE Wigginton Lab). Postdoc, UMich
Jaspreet Singh Saini, Postdoc at EPFL
Joyah Watkins, MSc Duhaime Lab Frontiers MSc grad. PhD student, Rice Univ
Rebecca Chandross
Fang Wu
Cecelia Batterbee, UM '20, MSc student, SEAS
Nathalie O'Hernandez, UM UROP
Arjun Puri, Washington University in St Louis '20
Emily Chiang, 2018 Doris Duke Conservation Scholar, U Mich
Jordan Gumm, Progenity
Molly Radosevich, UM EEB '18, UM Immunology lab
Rachna Pannu, SFSU graduate program, de la Torre Lab
Brittan Scales, postdoc at IOW Warnemuende
Alexi Schnur, UM '18- Katie Klier, UM '18
- Payton Watt, UM '18
Isaac Klimasmith, 2017 Doris Duke Conservation Scholar, Wesleyan University- Alec Flores, 2017 Doris Duke Conservation Scholar, Santa Barbara Community College
Kaitie Benedek, UM PiTE '17, Wyoming State Forestry intern- Aaron Adiwidjaja, UROP, UM Environmental Engineering '20
- Yi (Sally) Qiu, UROP, UM Environmental Engineering '20
- Andrew Wong, UROP, UM Environmental Engineering '20
Brendan Locke, UM Chemistry grad program coordinator
Kat Wiles, UM History grad program coordinator
Michelle Berry
Greg Boehm, Senior Educator, California Science Center
Paulina Devlin, MSc student Univ Michigan
Shubhum Sidhar
Vinnie Gupta, University of Michigan
Melissa Freeland, University of Michigan
Sarah Halperin, grad student UCSB, Bren School Env Sci Man
Emma Borjigin-Wang, Harvard University
Nicole Dear, MPH, CDC fellow
Gabriel Vargas Asensio, PhD Univ of Chicago
Cody Sheik, faculty Univ of Minnesota-Duluth
Opportunities to Join
Inquire with Professor Duhaime if you are interested in joining the lab.
Interested graduate students should be in touch and apply to the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Are you an interested undergraduate? Please address the following in your inquiry email:
- Share a CV, which includes (i) your research experiences and skills if you've worked in a lab previously (no worries if you haven't yet, this is the time and the place to do it), (ii) relevant coursework you have taken, (iii) your graduation year and major.
- Time frame you are looking for a position in our lab: how soon would you like to start and for how long/how many semesters do you anticipate involvement with research in the Duhaime Lab?
- Please share your future academic plans, remaining undergraduate time, upon graduation and beyond. What is your vision is currently for where you see yourself going? What skills do you hope to acquire with us that will help you get there?
- Why you feel joining our research group is a good fit for your academic or scientific interests.