Dr. Josephine Chandler, associate professor of molecular biosciences at the University of Kansas, will give a talk on her research as a candidate for the Kummer Endowed Chair of biological sciences at 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, in Room 256 Toomey Hall.

Most bacteria are found in complex microbial communities, where they frequently interact with other members of the community. Bacterial interactions play a dramatic role in shaping microbial communities by changing population dynamics and influencing microbial community processes. Prior studies of microbial interactions have been primarily of single-clone populations, which provide a limited view of how interactions might influence more complex communities.

The development of laboratory models or ‘synthetic ecology’ approaches, in combination with genetics and genomics approaches, provide new opportunities to study bacterial interactions. The laboratory models offer a powerful but simplified approach to study multiple-strain and multiple-species communities in a controlled setting. These synthetic communities offer many advantages over direct studies of natural communities, which can present many challenges.