From September 17-21, 2018, we introduce you to some of the postdocs at the JGI in honor of National Postdoc Appreciation Week, which recognizes the contributions of these early career researchers. Through a series of hard-hitting questions, we find out what drives each one.
What do you work on? My postdoctoral research in the Metabolomics Technology Group under Trent Northen involves studying the microbial and viral constituents of desert biocrust microbial communities through the use of metagenomic sequencing, assembly and annotation. Through this work we hope to identify the key microbial mediators of biogeochemical cycling within biocrusts across different maturity stages, to unravel the physiological responses of consortia to sporadic wetting events, and to leverage novel approaches to tease out active community members from these critical desert features.
When did you join the JGI? May 2018
Where did you join us from? I joined the JGI from the University of Pretoria, South Africa after the completion of my Ph.D. in Biotechnology.
What drives your passion outside of JGI? Cooking for and travelling with my beautiful wife Amy, watching football (soccer) on the weekend, and learning something new every single day.
What is your favorite quote? “I am doing this for many reasons, some of which I don’t fully understand. That there is an inner urge is undeniable.” – Sir Ranulph Fiennes
What is your favorite food? Ostrich steak with pumpkin fritters.