Research Interest

Our research laboratory is focus on Microbial biotechnology and bioprospecting.  In order to isolate, characterize and manipulate microbes with biotechnological potential,  we specially use microbiology, molecular biology, and biochemical approaches.  We are also involved in generating metagenomic libraries from tropical habitats, searching for novel microbial groups and enzymatic activities of medical and industrial applications. 

The lab expertise range from the used of genetic engineering tools for DNA isolation, manipulation, and analysis, to the used of functional proteomics technologies such as phage display for the development of bioindicators.  The majority of the research projects in our lab will generate nucleic acids of some sort (genes), and metabolites that will require the in silico analysis, and could be seen as a collaborative source for potential partners such as bioinformatician, combinatorial chemistry, and drug design experts, and in research areas in molecular pharmacology, and toxicology.

We are also currently involved in a collaborative research with the Engineering Department in Campus in a project involving systems biology.  

GRADUATE STUDENTS AND RESEARCH PROJECTS