Christine Hawkes

Bio

Hawkes studies the ecological mechanisms underlying community assembly of fungi and bacteria on plants across scales from individuals to landscapes. Her lab is particularly interested in how microbes can rescue or protect plants from drought and pathogens in both natural and agricultural ecosystems. Finally, the lab also asks how the microbiome can impact ecosystem carbon, nutrient, and water cycling both directly and through their effects on plants. To address these questions, the lab uses a combination of field, greenhouse, and lab experiments. Using an extensive culture library of fungi, it explores the function of individual symbionts, studies fungal interactions, and identifies genomic and chemical mechanisms underlying plant-microbe interactions. The ultimate goal is to develop a predictive framework for the outcome of symbiosis that can assist with translation of the plant microbiome for on-farm application.