Can we rewire microbial systems towards more desirable functions?

Title: Can we rewire microbial systems towards more desirable functions?

Speaker: Professor Matthias Hess, UC Davis 

Abstract and Bio: Dr. Matthias Hess is a Professor in the Department of Animal Science at University of California Davis and an Investigator at the Innovative Genomics Institute at the University of California Berkeley, where his research explores one of agriculture’s most powerful - yet tiny - tool: the rumen microbiome. His career has taken him from studying Deinococcus radiodurans, a bacterium that has been called “Conan the Bacterium” due to his incredible resistance to ionizing radiation, to microbes that thrive in environments nearly as acidic as car-battery chemicals. During his tenure as postdoc at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, he turned his attention to the rumen microbiome, using cutting-edge genomic technologies to uncover microbes and microbial enzymes that could improve biofuel production and reduce environmental impacts. Since joining UC Davis in 2014, Dr. Hess has focused on harnessing the rumen microbiome to create healthier, more productive cattle with a smaller environmental footprint. His lab is investigating innovative strategies to reduce methane emissions by manipulating its microbiome through feed additives and CRISPR-based genome editing technologies. Dr. Hess has published more than 50 peer reviewed papers, attracted nearly $80 million in research funding, and mentored dozens of students and researchers. In this seminar, he will take us inside the fascinating world of the rumen microbiome and show how multi-omics can deepen our understanding of this complex ecosystem and help to advance more sustainable livestock production and global food security.