Terence Crofts

I study the ecology of small molecules within microbiomes. Microbial communities, such as those in the soil and mammalian gut, represent an untapped reserve of genetic and biochemical diversity. These environments, where ever-changing conditions are coupled to intense competition for ecological niches, favor metabolic flexibility and innovation. My research program characterizes the intricate interactions among microorganisms in microbial communities that allow them to produce and modify complex small molecules – such as antibiotics and vitamins – and discovers where and how these abilities evolved.