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Dr

Jen Wood

Senior Lecturer in Microbiology

Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology

Orcid identifier0000-0002-7313-5681
  • Senior Lecturer in Microbiology
    Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology

BIO

My research interest revolves around advancing and validating ecological theories to deepen our understanding of microbial community ecology. I am particularly focused on understanding soil microbial traits, which are the distinctive abilities possessed by each microbial species. These traits encompass both physical and functional aspects, playing a vital role in microbial survival and offering valuable insights into soil health. For instance, traits such as extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production contribute to soil aggregation, while antibiotic production influences the dynamics of community competition.
The development of theories that can predict the assembly of microbial communities exhibiting key traits can inform the sustainable management of natural and agricultural ecosystems. This understanding is crucial for fostering ecosystem resilience and optimizing ecosystem services.


Orcid ID: 0000-0002-7313-5681

DEGREES

  • PhD, Microbial Ecology
    La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia13 Sep 2017

POSTGRADUATE TRAINING

  • Research officer
    Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia1 Jul 2017 - 31 Dec 2019
    Microbial Ecology (Corrosion)Postdoctoral ResearchSupervised by Wade SA

EXPERTISE