Angela Kent

Research Interests
Microbial ecology, environmental microbiology

How I became interested in my field
I have been interested in many areas of science since I was young, but I managed to narrow down my broad interests to microbiology and genetics as an undergraduate. My training in microbial genetics as a graduate student prepared me for studying microbes in many different settings. I have always been interested in working on projects that can be applied somehow – to improve environmental management, animal health, or plant productivity – as a result, my research explores microbes in a number of different ecological settings. I am fascinated by the number of ways that microbes influence the world around us, and seek to share my enthusiasm through my teaching and research activities.

Curriculum Vitae (PDF)

Academic Interests/Expertise
Microbial ecology and environmental microbiology:
Microbial populations are a key component of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and are responsible for mediating a number of important processes, including nutrient cycling and biogeochemical transformations.  Molecular biology tools allow us to describe the diversity and structure of microbial communities in natural systems, and relate these to environmental drivers and ecosystem function.  I am interested in studying the ecology of the microbial communities in order to ultimately improve our ability to predict the impact of anthropogenic influences on processes mediated by microbial communities. I am also interested in applying our understanding of microbial ecology to improve the health and sustainability of natural and managed ecosystems.