Dr. Seth Bordenstein

Biography

Seth Bordenstein is a recognized thought leader and scientist studying the centrality of microorganisms in the biosphere and human health. For over 25 years, he has explored the world of microorganisms found in animals. His research intersects microbiome diversity and its significant impact on human and animal health, especially in understanding and controlling mosquito-borne diseases. As the founding director of the Health Microbiome Center at Pennsylvania State University, he leads a collaborative effort involving 500 members focused on transformative projects related to microbiome sciences that encompass agricultural, environmental, and human health domains. Dr. Bordenstein has been awarded several accolades including the 2014 Jeffrey Nordhaus Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and the 2022 Dorothy Foehr Huck J. Lloyd Huck Endowed Chair in Microbiome Sciences. His significant contributions to the field include the discovery of mechanisms by which the bacterium Wolbachia manipulates sexual reproduction, the concept of phylosymbiosis that highlights shared microbiomes among closely related host species, and research on human gut microbiome variation across social groups in the United States. He is committed to expanding his research and educational portfolio to forge new partnerships in academia, industry, and private foundations.

Research Interests