2025 NeLLi Symposium

Metagenomic and single-cell sequence data have provided a means to access novel microbial lineages, leading to a new appreciation for the extent of diversity. The phylogenetic and functional characterization of this novel diversity represents an ongoing challenge.

This symposium series will provide an overview of the bacterial, archaeal and microeukaryote diversity cataloged and taxonomically classified to date. Under the “sequence to function’ umbrella, this symposium will further focus on computational approaches to characterize novel microbial lineages and sequence novelty and experimental approaches to assign functional “read out” to sequence data. Moving from cataloging microbial diversity to experimental characterization and validation of the functional potential of these new lineages will provide new cornerstones for research in the areas of bioenergy and biomedicine, as well as biotechnology.

• Harriet Alexander, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)
• John M. Archibald, Dalhousie University
• Matthew Brown, Mississippi State University
• Anne Dekas, Stanford University
• Yunha Hwang, Harvard University
• Vivek Natarajan, Google
• Olga Zhaxybayeva, Dartmouth University

See full agenda at the bottom of this page.

Check back for information on venue and lodging. 

Once you have completed your meeting registration you will receive a link to submit an abstract in your registration confirmation email.

• PLEASE NOTE:  Only the first 80 poster abstracts will be accepted due to space restraints.
  • Poster Sizes: The poster boards are 4’x8′.
    • Please be mindful in bringing posters that are at least 48″ wide or less to ensure 2 posters fitting on the boards.
    • JGI posters are typically printed in the ARCH E size which works well with the poster boards we have requested.

Please note that the cancellation policy below is as follows: 

• 100% Refund upon request prior to 08/31/2025
• 50% Refund upon request prior to 10/31/2025
• No refunds will be permitted after 10/31/2025

• Frederik Schulz, New Lineages of Life Lead
• Tanja Woyke, Microbial Program
• Gitta Szabo, User Project Coordination
• Rekha Seshadri, Functional Annotation Group
• Natalia Ivanova, Functional Annotation Lead
• Steven Ahrendt, Biosystems Data Science

• Brian Hedlund, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• Duane Moser, Desert Research Institute
• Nicole Pietrasiak, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• Ranjani Murali, University of Nevada, Las Vegas