
Overview
Background
From a PhD in 1994 at the University of Queensland, Phil Hugenholtz developed a career in microbiology and genomics in the USA and in Australia. Phil’s last position in the USA was as Staff Scientist (2004-2010) at the Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute. In late 2010 Phil returned home to establish the Australian Centre for Ecogenomics (ACE) at the University of Queensland. He has contributed to the field of culture-independent analysis of microorganisms through the discovery and characterisation of numerous previously unrecognised major bacterial and archaeal lineages each with greater evolutionary divergence than animals and plants combined. Phil has played important roles in the development and application of metagenomics, the genome-based characterisation of microbiomes, which has revolutionised our understanding of microbial ecology and evolution. This has resulted in several discoveries in environmental and clinical microbiology sometimes overturning decades of misdirected culture-based studies. He has applied his interest in comparative genomics and metagenomics to develop a systematic genome-based taxonomy for bacteria and archaea, which is facilitating scientific communication and endeavour. Phil has published over four hundred papers on molecular microbial ecology and evolution.
As Professorial Research Fellow at UQ and Director of ACE, Phil has affiliate appointments with the Institute for Molecular Bioscience and the UQ Diamantina Institute, which supports collaborative research at ACE. Currently, Phil’s research interests include the microbial ecology and evolution of environmental and host-associated ecosystems including marsupial and insect guts, biomining, marine and genomic mapping of the microbial tree of life.
Current research includes:
- A Genome Taxonomy Database for the Kingdom Fungi
- Tracing the emergence of cellular complexity in the phylum Planctomycetota
- Dual-function ribonucleases: unexpected agents of antibiotic resistance
- Breaking critical barriers in soil formation of bauxite residues
- Changing the classification status quo with a global genome-based taxonomy
- GBR Microbial Genomic Database
In 2018, Phil co-founded a start-up company, Microba Life Sciences (microba.com), which is focused on metagenome-based diagnostics and therapeutics.
Phil received the Young Investigators Award from the International Society of Microbial Ecology (ISME) in 2016, was elected in 2012 as a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology (AAM), elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in 2017, is a Member of the International Scientific Advisory Board (Fachbeirat) of the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen and is the outgoing President (2024-2026) of the International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME). Phil has been a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher since 2014 and one of only ~300 researchers worldwide to be highly cited in two fields (Microbiology and Biology & Biochemistry) from 2019-2024.
Availability
- Professor Phil Hugenholtz is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Metagenomics
culture-independent sequence-based characterisation of microbial communities
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Microbial diversity and evolution
with a focus on a systematic genome-based prokaryotic taxonomy
Research impacts
Phil has been at the forefront of major advances in molecular microbial ecology over the last 30 years, which now form the basis of this field. Our understanding of microbiology as a whole has been profoundly changed as a result of these advances. Beginning with the recognition that we have been ignorant of most microbial diversity due to a strong cultivation bias, he has systematically directed his research to characterise “microbial dark matter” with the ultimate goal of a holistic understanding of microbial evolution and ecology. He has made central contributions to this grand challenge in biology as evidenced by a series of landmark papers (57 Science & Nature series papers ) and he has established a premier research facility at The University of Queensland, the Australian Centre for Ecogenomics (ACE), dedicated to this mission.
Works
Search Professor Phil Hugenholtz’s works on UQ eSpace
2017
Journal Article
Gene and genome-centric analyses of koala and wombat fecal microbiomes point to metabolic specialization for Eucalyptus digestion
Shiffman, Miriam E, Soo, Rochelle M, Dennis, Paul G, Morrison, Mark, Tyson, Gene W and Hugenholtz, Philip (2017). Gene and genome-centric analyses of koala and wombat fecal microbiomes point to metabolic specialization for Eucalyptus digestion. PeerJ, 5, 1-32. doi: 10.7717/peerj.4075
2017
Journal Article
Recovery of nearly 8,000 metagenome-assembled genomes substantially expands the tree of life
Parks, Donovan H., Rinke, Christian, Chuvochina, Maria, Chaumeil, Pierre-Alain, Woodcroft, Ben J., Evans, Paul N., Hugenholtz, Philip and Tyson, Gene W. (2017). Recovery of nearly 8,000 metagenome-assembled genomes substantially expands the tree of life. Nature Microbiology, 2 (11), 1533-1542. doi: 10.1038/s41564-017-0012-7
2017
Journal Article
A microfluidics-based in situ chemotaxis assay to study the behaviour of aquatic microbial communities
Lambert, Bennett S., Raina, Jean-Baptiste, Fernandez, Vicente I., Rinke, Christian, Siboni, Nachshon, Rubino, Francesco, Hugenholtz, Philip, Tyson, Gene W., Seymour, Justin R. and Stocker, Roman (2017). A microfluidics-based in situ chemotaxis assay to study the behaviour of aquatic microbial communities. Nature Microbiology, 2 (10), 1344-1349. doi: 10.1038/s41564-017-0010-9
2017
Journal Article
Characterization of a highly efficient antibiotic-degrading metallo-β-lactamase obtained from an uncultured member of a permafrost community
Pedroso, Marcelo Monteiro, Selleck, Christopher, Enculescu, Charmaine, Harmer, Jeffrey R., Mitic, Natasa, Craig, Whitney R., Helweh, Waleed, Hugenholtz, Philip, Tyson, Gene W., Tierney, David L., Larrabee, James A. and Schenk, Gerhard (2017). Characterization of a highly efficient antibiotic-degrading metallo-β-lactamase obtained from an uncultured member of a permafrost community. Metallomics, 9 (8), 1157-1168. doi: 10.1039/c7mt00195a
2017
Journal Article
Minimum information about a single amplified genome (MISAG) and a metagenome-assembled genome (MIMAG) of bacteria and archaea
Bowers, Robert M., Kyrpides, Nikos C., Stepanauskas, Ramunas, Harmon-Smith, Miranda, Doud, Devin, Reddy, T. B. K., Schulz, Frederik, Jarett, Jessica, Rivers, Adam R., Eloe-Fadrosh, Emiley A., Tringe, Susannah G., Ivanova, Natalia N., Copeland, Alex, Clum, Alicia, Becraft, Eric D., Malmstrom, Rex R., Birren, Bruce, Podar, Mircea, Bork, Peer, Weinstock, George M., Garrity, George M., Dodsworth, Jeremy A., Yooseph, Shibu, Sutton, Granger, Gloeckner, Frank O., Gilbert, Jack A., Nelson, William C., Hallam, Steven J., Jungbluth, Sean P. ... Woyke, Tanja (2017). Minimum information about a single amplified genome (MISAG) and a metagenome-assembled genome (MIMAG) of bacteria and archaea. Nature Biotechnology, 35 (8), 725-731. doi: 10.1038/nbt.3893
2017
Journal Article
1,003 reference genomes of bacterial and archaeal isolates expand coverage of the tree of life.
Mukherjee, Supratim, Seshadri, Rekha, Varghese, Neha J., Eloe-Fadrosh, Emiley A., Meier-Kolthoff, Jan P., Göker, Markus, Coates, R Cameron, Hadjithomas, Michalis, Pavlopoulos, Georgios A., Paez-Espino, David, Yoshikuni, Yasuo, Visel, Axel, Whitman, William B., Garrity, George M., Eisen, Jonathan A., Hugenholtz, Philip, Pati, Amrita, Ivanova, Natalia N., Woyke, Tanja, Klenk, Hans-Peter and Kyrpides, Nikos C. (2017). 1,003 reference genomes of bacterial and archaeal isolates expand coverage of the tree of life.. Nature Biotechnology, 35 (7), 676-683. doi: 10.1038/nbt.3886
2017
Journal Article
Introducing BASE: the Biomes of Australian Soil Environments soil microbial diversity database (vol 5, 1, 2016)
Bissett, Andrew, Fitzgerald, Anna, Court, Leon, Meintjes, Thys, Mele, Pauline M., Reith, Frank, Dennis, Paul G., Breed, Martin F., Brown, Belinda, Brown, Mark V., Brugger, Joel, Byrne, Margaret, Caddy-Retalic, Stefan, Carmody, Bernie, Coates, David J., Correa, Carolina, Ferrari, Belinda C., Gupta, Vadakattu V. S. R., Hamonts, Kelly, Haslem, Asha, Hugenholtz, Philip, Karan, Mirko, Koval, Jason, Lowe, Andrew J., Macdonald, Stuart, McGrath, Leanne, Martin, David, Morgan, Matt, North, Kristin I. ... Young, Andrew (2017). Introducing BASE: the Biomes of Australian Soil Environments soil microbial diversity database (vol 5, 1, 2016). Gigascience, 6 (5) gix021, 1-1. doi: 10.1093/gigascience/gix021
2017
Conference Publication
Acute graft-versus-host disease is regulated by an IL-17-sensitive microbiome
Varelias, Antiopi, Ormerod, Kate L., Bunting, Mark D., Koyama, Motoko, Gartlan, Kate H., Kuns, Rachel D., Lachner, Nancy, Locke, Kelly R., Lim, Chun Y., Henden, Andrea S., Zhang, Ping, Clouston, Andrew D., Hasnain, Sumaira Z., McGuckin, Michael A., Blazar, Bruce R., MacDonald, Kelli P.A., Hugenholtz, Philip and Hill, Geoff R. (2017). Acute graft-versus-host disease is regulated by an IL-17-sensitive microbiome. Immunology 2017™ Meeting, Washington, DC United States, 12-16 May 2017. Rockville, MD United States: American Association of Immunologists. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.198.supp.82.8
2017
Journal Article
Comparative genomic analysis of the class Epsilonproteobacteria and proposed reclassification to Epsilonbacteraeota (phyl. nov.)
Waite, David W., Vanwonterghem, Inka, Rinke, Christian, Parks, Donovan H. , Zhang, Ying, Takai, Ken, Sievert, Stefan M. , Simon, Joerg, Campbell, Barbara J. , Hanson, Thomas E. , Woyke, Tanja, Klotz, Martin G. and Hugenholtz, Philip (2017). Comparative genomic analysis of the class Epsilonproteobacteria and proposed reclassification to Epsilonbacteraeota (phyl. nov.). Frontiers in Microbiology, 8 (APR) 682 doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00682.
2017
Journal Article
On the origins of oxygenic photosynthesis and aerobic respiration in Cyanobacteria
Soo, Rochelle M. , Hemp, James, Parks, Donovan H. , Fischer, Woodward W. and Hugenholtz, Philip (2017). On the origins of oxygenic photosynthesis and aerobic respiration in Cyanobacteria. Science, 355 (6332), 1436-1440. doi: 10.1126/science.aal3794
2017
Journal Article
Microbiomes in respiratory health and disease: an Asia-Pacific perspective
Chotirmall, Sanjay H., Gellatly, Shaan L., Budden, Kurtis F., Mac Aogain, Micheál, Shukla, Shakti D., Wood, David L. A., Hugenholtz, Philip, Pethe, Kevin and Hansbro, Philip M. (2017). Microbiomes in respiratory health and disease: an Asia-Pacific perspective. Respirology, 22 (2), 240-250. doi: 10.1111/resp.12971
2017
Journal Article
Acute graft-versus-host disease is regulated by an IL-17-sensitive microbiome
Varelias, Antiopi, Ormerod, Kate L., Bunting, Mark D., Koyama, Motoko, Gartlan, Kate H., Kuns, Rachel D., Lachner, Nancy, Locke, Kelly R., Lim, Chun Y., Henden, Andrea S., Zhang, Ping, Clouston, Andrew D., Hasnain, Sumaira Z., McGuckin, Michael A., Blazar, Bruce R., MacDonald, Kelli P. A ., Hugenholtz, Philip and Hill, Geoffrey R. (2017). Acute graft-versus-host disease is regulated by an IL-17-sensitive microbiome. Blood, 129 (15), 2172-2185. doi: 10.1182/blood-2016-08-732628
2017
Conference Publication
Streptococcus Species Enriched in the Oral Cavity of RA Patients: A Persistent Source of Peptidoglycan-Polysaccharide Polymers Which Drive Disseminated Synovial Inflammation
Moentadj, Rabia, Rehaume, Linda, Cuiv, Paraic O., Ormerod, Kate, Maradana, Muralidhara, Lakis, Vanessa Anne, Morrison, Mark, Hugenholtz, Philip, Benham, Helen, Le Cao, Kim-Anh and Thomas, Ranjeny (2017). Streptococcus Species Enriched in the Oral Cavity of RA Patients: A Persistent Source of Peptidoglycan-Polysaccharide Polymers Which Drive Disseminated Synovial Inflammation. 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting, San Diego CA, United States, 3–8 November 2017. Hoboken, NJ United States: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/art.40321
2017
Conference Publication
Acute graft-versus-host disease is regulated by an IL-17-sensitive microbiome
Varelias, Antiopi, Ormerod, Kate L., Bunting, Mark D., Koyama, Motoko, Gartlan, Kate H., Kuns, Rachel D., Lachner, Nancy, Locke, Kelly R., Lim, Chun Y., Henden, Andrea S., Zhang, Ping, Clouston, Andrew D., Hasnain, Sumaira Z., McGuckin, Michael A., Blazar, Bruce R., MacDonald, Kelli P. A., Hugenholtz, Philip and Hill, Geoff R. (2017). Acute graft-versus-host disease is regulated by an IL-17-sensitive microbiome. Immunology Meeting, Washington DC, 12-16 May 2017. Bethesda, MD United States: American Association of Immunologists.
2017
Conference Publication
Dietary fibre and microbial metabolites protect against cigarette smoke-induced lung pathology in mice
Budden, Kurtis, Gellatly, Shaan, Wood, David, Morrison, Mark, Cooper, Matthew, Dennis, Paul G., Hugenholtz, Philip and Hansbro, Philip (2017). Dietary fibre and microbial metabolites protect against cigarette smoke-induced lung pathology in mice. 22nd Congress of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology, Sydney, Australia, 23–26 November 2017. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley.
2017
Conference Publication
IL-23 promotes fecal microbiota dysbiosis associated with susceptibility to spondyloarthritis and ileitis in ZAP-70 mutant SKG mice
Rehaume, Linda, Matigian, Nicholas, Ormerod, Kate, Kang, Alicia, Linedale, Richard, Zbarskaya, Olga, Kikly, Kristine, Daly, Joshua, Lachner, Nancy, Hugenholtz, Philip, Morrison, Mark, Le Cao, Kim-Anh and Thomas, Ranjeny (2017). IL-23 promotes fecal microbiota dysbiosis associated with susceptibility to spondyloarthritis and ileitis in ZAP-70 mutant SKG mice. ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA United States, 3-8 November 2017. Hoboken, NJ United States: John Wiley & Sons.
2016
Journal Article
Anode potential influences the structure and function of anodic electrode and electrolyte-associated microbiomes
Dennis, Paul G., Virdis, Bernardino, Vanwonterghem, Inka, Hassan, Alif, Hugenholtz, Phil, Tyson, Gene W. and Rabaey, Korneel (2016). Anode potential influences the structure and function of anodic electrode and electrolyte-associated microbiomes. Scientific Reports, 6 (1) 39114, 39114. doi: 10.1038/srep39114
2016
Journal Article
Crosstalk between sugarcane and a plant-growth promoting Burkholderia species
Paungfoo-Lonhienne, Chanyarat, Lonhienne, Thierry G. A., Yeoh, Yun Kit, Donose, Bogdan C., Webb, Richard I., Parsons, Jeremy, Liao, Webber, Sagulenko, Evgeny, Lakshmanan, Prakash, Hugenholtz, Philip, Schmidt, Susanne and Ragan, Mark A. (2016). Crosstalk between sugarcane and a plant-growth promoting Burkholderia species. Scientific Reports, 6 (1) 37389, 37389. doi: 10.1038/srep37389
2016
Journal Article
Emerging pathogenic links between microbiota and the gut-lung axis.
Budden, Kurtis F. , Gellatly, Shaan L. , Wood, David L., Cooper, Matthew A. , Morrison, Mark, Hugenholtz, Philip and Hansbro, Philip M. (2016). Emerging pathogenic links between microbiota and the gut-lung axis.. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 15 (1), 55-63. doi: 10.1038/nrmicro.2016.142
2016
Journal Article
Methylotrophic methanogenesis discovered in the archaeal phylum Verstraetearchaeota
Vanwonterghem, Inka, Evans, Paul N., Parks, Donovan H., Jensen, Paul D., Woodcroft, Ben J., Hugenholtz, Philip and Tyson, Gene W. (2016). Methylotrophic methanogenesis discovered in the archaeal phylum Verstraetearchaeota. Nature Microbiology, 1 (16170) 16170, 16170. doi: 10.1038/nmicrobiol.2016.170
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Phil Hugenholtz is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Dual-function ribonucleases: unexpected agents of antibiotic resistance
Bacterial pathogens use a group of enzymes called metallo-β-lactamases (or MBLs) that enable them to be multi-drug resistant. Our project aims to determine how MBLs have evolved from harmless and widespread ribonucleases, both deep in the past and potentially very recently in response to modern use of antibiotics. These insights will provide valuable functional and structural information that will enable the development of urgently needed strategies to combat β-lactam antibiotic resistance.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Changing the prokaryotic classification status quo with a global genome-based taxonomy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mikael Boden
-
Doctor Philosophy
Characterization of Uncultured Basal Clades of Planctomycetota
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kate Bowerman
-
Doctor Philosophy
Extant and Evolutionary Analysis of Uncultured Bacterial Lineages Phylogenetically Affiliated with the Orders Rickettsiales and Mycoplasmatales
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kate Bowerman
-
Doctor Philosophy
Changing the prokaryotic classification status quo with a global genome-based taxonomy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mikael Boden
-
Doctor Philosophy
Use of structural phylogeny and reconciliation in molecular phylogenetics
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Ascher, Dr Kate Bowerman
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Doctor Philosophy
Exploration of the Genome Taxonomy Database at the Species and Subspecies Level
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Diversity, ecology and biotechnological potential of chain elongating microorganisms from natural and engineered ecosystems
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Paul Evans, Dr Kate Bowerman
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Doctor Philosophy
Functionalisation of Metalloproteins and Applications in Biotechnology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gary Schenk
-
Doctor Philosophy
Evolution of an efficient antibiotic resistance mechanism from a common enzymatic fold.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gary Schenk
-
Doctor Philosophy
Building a better understanding of acetogen's metabolism
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kate Bowerman, Dr Paul Evans
-
Doctor Philosophy
Identification and characterisation of virally-encoded, antibiotic-degrading metalloenzymes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gary Schenk
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Doctor Philosophy
Dual-function ribonucleases: unexpected agents of antibiotic resistance
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mikael Boden
-
Doctor Philosophy
Protein structure guided precision medicine
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Stephanie Portelli, Professor David Ascher
-
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the metabolic capabilities and evolutionary relatiosnhips of novel microorganisms from hot springs
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Cheong Xin Chan, Dr Paul Evans
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Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Bacterially Induced Inflammation in Squamous Cell Carcinoma Development
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Morrison, Dr Debottam Sinha, Dr Janin Chandra, Professor Ian Frazer
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Extant and Evolutionary Analysis of Uncultured Bacterial Lineages Phylogenetically Affiliated with the Orders Rickettsiales and Mycoplasmatales
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kate Bowerman
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Classification and functional characterisation of the murine gut bacterial family Muribaculaceae
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Antiopi Varelias
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
A phylogenomic investigation of the largely uncharacterised Firmicutes classes, Dehalobacteriia and TC1
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ulrike Kappler
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring a Genome-Based Taxonomy for Tailed Double-Stranded DNA Viruses
Principal Advisor
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular Investigation of Australian Termites and their Gut Symbionts
Principal Advisor
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of root and associated soil microbiomes of sugarcane and other plants
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Susanne Schmidt
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-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Bacterially Induced Inflammation in Squamous Cell Carcinoma Development
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Morrison, Dr Debottam Sinha, Dr Janin Chandra, Professor Ian Frazer
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
The ecology and evolution of non-photosynthetic Cyanobacteria
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Paul Evans
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Culture-independent exploration of microbial dark matter with a focus on Asgardarchaeota
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Paul Evans
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Functional and comparative studies of members of the genus Methanosphaera, and their adaptations to the gut environment
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Morrison
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Microbial Community Structure and Functionality in Ruminants Fed the Probiotic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens H57
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Peter Dart
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Viral/bacterial respiratory tract co-infections in children
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Keith Chappell
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Moving targets: Microevolution of pathogenic species within the laboratory and the human host
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor James Fraser
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular characterisation of microbial communities involved in coal bed methane production
Associate Advisor
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular characterisation of microbial communities involved in nitrate-driven anaerobic oxidation of methane
Associate Advisor
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Microbial Ecology of Fermentative Microbes in Anaerobic Granules
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Damien Batstone, Associate Professor Paul Jensen
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2013
Master Philosophy
The characterisation of the microbiome of the demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica reveals host immune responses to changes in the symbiotic bacterial community
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bernard Degnan, Professor Sandie Degnan
Media
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