Our main goal is to understand how microbial communities work: How do bacteria respond to environmental changes? How do they interact with other bacteria? Can we predict properties and functions that emerge in self-organising microbial communities?
We focus on bacteria that compose the human microbiome in order to understand their role in shaping the health and diseases of our species. We are interested in building a mechanistic understanding of how pathogenic strains are able to establish, grow, and survive in our bodies. To achieve this, we combine theory, stochastic simulations, and experiments. In particular, we perform microfluidic experiments that allow the quantification of individual cell properties over space and time. We use machine learning algorithms to segment and track each individual cell for days. We combine large datasets of individual cell properties with mathematical models and theories (videos). This interdisciplinary approach to science is a core feature of our group. The Microbial Ecology group is led by Gabriele Micali and is hosted by IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas and has close collaborations with the Human Technopole. We will be located in Milano, Italy. We are looking for new people joining our team. Learn how to join us! Fundings: |
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