CoMS-GSU 2026 Symposium
CoMS-GSU Symposium
Microbial frontiers: from ecosystems to host-associated communities
The Center of Microbiome Science - Graduate Student Union (CoMS-GSU) held its first-ever symposium: "Microbial Frontiers: From Ecosystems to Host-Associated Communities."
The event featured keynote speakers Dr. Alex Michaud and Dr. Skye Fishbein, alongside student flash talks and a poster session. The symposium provided a platform for trainees to showcase their research and strengthened interdisciplinary ties within our microbiome community. Thanks to all of the presenters and attendees!
Keynote Speakers
Alex Michaud, PhD, Assistant Professor
Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center
School of Earth Sciences
Ohio State University
Alex is microbial biogeochemist with research interests that lie at the intersection of microbial ecology, biogeochemistry, and glaciology. His work seeks to answer questions which quantify how changes to glaciers, ice sheets, lake ice, and permafrost impact microbial activity and biogeochemical cycles in aquatic ecosystems.
Skye Fishbein, PhD, Assistant Professor
Microbial Infection and Immunity
College of Medicine
Ohio State University
The Fishbein Lab mission: uncover genotype-phenotype mechanisms in gut bacterial species that determine infection outcomes, identify dominant metabolic functions of the microbiome that alter infection outcomes, and develop high-resolution molecular biological and genetic methods for elucidating bacterial interactions in the human gut microbiome.
LOGISTICS
SYMPOSIUM SCHEDULE
Center of Microbiome Science Graduate Student Union Symposium
Microbial Frontiers: Ecosystems to Host-associated Communities
April 9th, CoMS-GSU
- 8:00 - 9:00 Registration
- 9:00 – 9:10 Welcome & Opening Remarks
- 9:10 – 10:10 Keynote Speaker
- Dr. Alex Michaud
- 50 min talk
- 10 for Q&A
- 10:10 – 10:20 Coffee Break
- Donuts
- Coffee
- Stretch
- 10:20 – 11:20 Flash Talks
- 6 talks
- 8-9 mins each
- 1-2 min for transition (prep time)
- 11:20 – 12:20 Lunch time
- Qdoba catering
- 12:20 – 1:20 Poster
- 1:20 – 2:20 Keynote Speaker
- Dr. Skye Fishbein
- 50 min talk
- 10 for Q&A
- 2:20 – 2:30 Coffee Break
- Donuts
- Coffee
- Stretch
- 2:30 – 3:30 Industry talk
- Dr. Lexie Blalock
- Star Lab
- 3:30 – 4:00 Closing Remarks