The Community Phages team

  • Tom Bernhardt

    Professor - Department of Microbiology

    I have had a long interest in phages dating back to my graduate studies at Texas A&M University. There, I investigated the mechanisms by which phages lyse (blowup) their bacterial hosts to release progeny viruses so that they can go on to infect new hosts. Over the years, my lab has mainly focused on studies of bacterial cell biology and cell surface biogenesis. However, in recent years we have begun studying phages of corynebacteria and using them to help us understand how this class of bacteria grows. I am excited to work with you on the identification and characterization of new corynephages from the environment. There is great potential in this work to develop new tools for our studies and to discover new biological mechanisms.

    Email: thomas_bernhardt@hms.harvard.edu

  • Michael Baym

    Associate Professor - Department of Biomedical Informatics and Microbiology

    I came to phages from a longstanding interest in bacterial evolution, particularly in the evolution of antibiotic resistance. I’m interested in both phages that can be used to kill antibiotic resistant bacteria and the role they play in the spread of the genes that cause antibiotic resistance. I am excited for you to discover phages that affect the horizontal transfer of genes between bacteria, and to potentially use those phages and the biology we learn from them to better address antibiotic resistance.

    Email: baym@hms.harvard.edu

  • Philip Kranzusch

    Professor - Department of Microbiology

    I am interested in how cells sense and defend against viral infection. My lab uses biochemistry to study how human cells recognize viruses and how bacteria detect replication of phages. We have been surprised to learn from our research that these processes are closely related, and human cells and bacteria use similar mechanisms to resist virus replication. I am excited to work with you to identify new phages and discover how bacteria and phages can teach us more about human immunity.

    Email: philip_kranzusch@dfci.harvard.edu

  • Angelika Gründling

    Visiting Research Professor

    I am a visiting research Professor currently working in the Department of Microbiology herein Boston, but my own and “home” lab is 5,265 km away at Imperial College in London. There we investigate how a small signalling nucleotide controls the survival, antibiotic resistance, and cell size of Staphylococcus aureus. Here in Boston, I study how Bacillus subtilis builds its cell membrane. We use phages routinely in the lab, mostly to move DNA from one bacterium to another. But I have never isolated a new phage, so I am very excited to be able to join you in your journey to isolate and characterize your own phage!

    Email: a.grundling@imperial.ac.uk

  • James Spencer

    Lab Manager - Bernhardt Lab

    As a former bench scientist and current lab manager, it’s my goal to create and maintain an environment that makes your experience in the lab as safe, seamless, and productive as possible. I find fulfillment in ensuring that we will have everything we could need to make the science happen, both at the bench and behind the scenes. I am excited to see the great work that you’ll be able to do during your time in this program.

    Email: James_Spencer@hms.harvard.edu

  • Ellie Rand

    Graduate Student - Baym Lab

    I am a graduate student in the Baym lab, and I am fascinated by the diversity of microbes in the environment. For my phd project, I have developed a novel method to isolate environmental phages that will hopefully be useful for ecological and clinical research in the future. I love exploring new samples, and I can’t wait to see what we find this summer!

    Email: eleanor_rand@g.harvard.edu

  • Amelia McKitterick

    Postdoctoral Fellow - Bernhardt Lab

    I am interested in understanding how phages interact with their host bacteria to gain control during infection, and how this knowledge can teach us about the special ways different bacteria grow and divide. I think through studying phages, we can ask big picture questions about bacterial and pathogen evolution as well as microbial community dynamics that can teach us more about the larger world around us. I am also passionate about sharing my love of research with others and can’t wait to spread the joy of lab work to a new set of researchers.

    Email: amelia.mckitterick@hms.harvard.edu

  • Brendan O'Hara

    Postdoctoral Fellow - Dove Lab

    Email: brendan.ohara@childrens.harvard.edu

  • Sam Hobbs

    Postdoctoral Fellow - Kranzusch Lab

    Bacterial cells and the viruses that infect them are in constant conflict, and as a result, both have evolved many ways of manipulating each other. I am interested in the molecular basis of how viruses evade host immune defenses. Currently, I work on understanding the mechanisms by which bacterial cells sense phage infection and the evolutionary adaptations that have allowed phages to evade this detection system. For my graduate work I studied the immune response to vaccinia virus infection. Away from the lab I enjoy the outdoors through skiing, climbing, hiking, and biking.

    Email: samuelhobbs1@gmail.com

  • Alex Johnson

    Postdoctoral Fellow - Kranzusch Lab

    Phages have been at war with bacteria for billions of years and this conflict has led to incredible innovations in molecular biology. I am particularly excited about studying phage and bacteria to discover their molecular weapons and shields. My hope is that phage will teach us new principles of life and also yield new tools for synthetic biology. In my own research, I am passionate about visualizing large biological machines that cannot be seen by the naked eye using the techniques of electron microscopy. I am excited to share my experience and passion for bacteriophage and electron microscopy with students in this program.

    Email: alexanderg_johnson@dfci.harvard.edu

  • Doug Wassarman

    Postdoctoral Fellow - Kranzusch Lab

    I am interested in studying how cells defend themselves from viruses and the ways that viruses avoid these defenses. Some of our very own immune pathways and some of the most important biotechnologies can be traced back to the evolutionary battle between phages and bacteria. I am excited to work with you to identify new phages that can teach us about the innovative strategies bacteria and phages are using against one another.

    Email: douglasr_wassarman@dfci.harvard.edu

  • Jane Liu

    Graduate student - Fortune Lab

    I am a graduate student in Sarah Fortune’s lab studying the genetic evolution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Although I do not work with phages directly, I am interested in learning about microorganisms at the host-pathogen interface and believe we can learn a lot of cool biology through co-evolution of bacteria and phages. I also really enjoy the beauty of microbiology research and I am excited to share my enthusiasm with you all this summer!

    Email: jane_liu@hms.harvard.edu

  • Kristen LeGault

    Postdoctoral Fellow - Helaine Lab

    I’m a postdoc in the Helaine lab, where I study the human pathogen Klebsiella. I like isolating new Klebsiella phages as a side project to my main research. During my PhD, I studied how phages influence the evolution of bacteria, and I am excited to share with you insights into how diverse phages shape bacterial communities. I am a native of Toronto, and have been known to pronounce “about” and “bag” in a way Americans find amusing.

    Email: kristen_legault@hms.harvard.edu

Diversity and Equity Mission

Community Phages is committed to providing an engaging and immersive research experience. We recognize that there have been systemic injustices in the historical distribution of scientific research opportunities and support. Thus, we strive to facilitate an equitable and inclusive environment in which all students may feel supported and provided with opportunities to flourish.

Acknowledgments

The Community Phages program was inspired by the HHMI SEA-PHAGES program. Protocols and materials have been adapted or reproduced with permission. We are grateful to Viknesh Sivanathan from HHMI for assistance in the conception and funding of this program.

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