Professor Dr. Laurie Comstock

Biography

Laurie Comstock is a Professor in the Biological Sciences Division at the University of Chicago. Her research primarily focuses on microbial interactions, particularly the role of antimicrobial proteins and bacterial dynamics within the gut microbiome. Comstock's lab examines how different bacterial species interact within the human intestinal environment, striving to understand the cooperative and antagonistic relationships that form healthy communities essential for human health and disease prevention. Utilizing microbiological, genetic, and computational analyses, her work has led to significant discoveries regarding the evolution of microbes and the genetic elements exchanged among bacterial species. This research has implications for personalizing gut microbiota compositions to enhance community health benefits, which are facilitated by shared genetic elements among gut bacteria.

Research Interests

Experience