Bioinformatics & Microbiome Research

BMORE Lab

Project descriptions

We develop computational methods to understand microbial communities and host–microbe interactions. Our work spans metagenomics, amplicon sequencing, transcriptomics, and integrative multi‑omics.  We partner closely with students across all levels to build open, reproducible pipelines and to validate discoveries through rigorous benchmarking.

  1. Modernizing biology curricula by developing accessible genomic data science miniCUREs for the AnVIL platform, NIH funded project 1UE5HG013799-01. Our curriculum is available at www.C-MOOR.org.

 

  1. BioDIGS Collaboration, BioDIGS is featured at Notre Dame of Maryland

 

    • BioDIGS (BioDiversity and Informatics for Genomics Scholars) is a massive, nationwide scientific research initiative and educational consortium focused on mapping the United States soil microbiome. By analyzing soil biodiversity, the project helps scientists understand connections between the environment, microbial ecosystems, and human health.

 

  1. USDA collboration, Poultry Sciences

 

    • This project working with collaborators at the USDA's Animal Biosciences and Biotechnology Laboratory (ABBL) to study how microbiomes impact health and disease in poultry populations.

 

  1. Smithsonian Environmental Reserach Center (SERC) Collaboration

 

    • This project works with researchers in the coastal disease ecology lab to better understand the microbiomes that exists in coastal waterways and their role in harboring antibiotics resistance genes.

 

  1. Microbiome projects in the BMORE Lab
    • The BMORE lab hosts rotating microbiome research projects studying how microbiomes are involved with disease and health in various living systems. 

Publications

2026 — BioDIGS Consortium, Alberts, T., Albritton, C. F., Alcazar, R., Aljabri, Z., … Zirkle, L. (2026). Unearthing soil biodiversity through collaborative genomic research and education. Nature genetics, 58(1), 3–8. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-025-02442-5  

 

2025 —Ekalle, G., York, S., Gerard, M., & Kerr, J. (2025). Association Between Vaginal Community States and Preeclampsia Status in Pregnant Individuals. bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology,

2025.09.18.677097. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.09.18.677097

 

2024 — Pomeroy AE, Bixler A, Chen SH, Kerr JE, Levine TD and Ryder EF (2024) “R” U ready?: a case study using R to analyze changes in gene expression during evolution. Front. Educ. 9:1379910. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1379910

 

More publications coming soon.