The Malacrino Lab will open its doors in January 2025 as part of the Department of Biological Sciences at Clemson University. The lab focuses on fundamental and applied research on microbiomes.

Our research is a blend of theory drawn from evolutionary biology, community ecology, and multitrophic interactions, combined with cutting-edge tools in molecular biology, experimental evolution, high-throughput sequencing, and high-performance computing to delve deep into the mechanisms governing the interplay between hosts and their microbiomes. Our goal is to answer important fundamental questions: how do microbiomes influence host ecology and evolution? Which are the rules behind the assembly of microbial communities? Can we assemble/evolve microbiomes to drive changes in host traits? We mostly focus on soil, plants and their herbivores.

In our quest to uncover the mechanisms and consequences of host-microbiome interactions, we aim to build a diverse and inclusive research group, welcoming great ideas and promoting tolerance and mutual respect.