Zhe Lyu

Bio

Research in the Lyu lab encompasses anaerobic and molecular microbiology, microbial physiology and metabolism, and microbial ecology and evolution. We are particularly interested in employing live microbes inclusive of both archaea and bacteria as model systems to broadly study the functional roles of oxygen-sensitive microbes across multiple settings such as human and animal health, agriculture, climate change, and biotechnology. To accomplish our research goals, we aspire to 1) establish and integrate cultivation-dependent and -independent approaches to define physiology-relevant microbial phenotypes at the community, population, organismal or molecular levels; 2) develop and apply genetic, biochemical, and omic methods in vitro and in vivo to mechanistically characterize the observed phenotypes; and 3) bring and translate new findings into tangible solutions by harnessing the cross-boundary power of microbes.

Our current projects relevant to climate solutions focus on the methanogenic archaea which contribute to 70% of the global methane emission.