Aerobiome Discovery Network

Funding Year: 2019-2020

DNA and RNA are ubiquitous throughout the atmosphere, and genetic material originating from microbial and smaller eukaryotes is spread substantially by air currents. The Aerobiome Discovery Network GCRT will converge previously unlinked expertise in atmospheric science, aerosol physics, infectious diseases/pathogens of plants, animals, people, and ecology, epidemiology, and microbiome/genomic sciences at CSU to explore this fascinating area. A series of workshops, panels and seminars will be planned during 2019-­2020 to identify the most relevant questions about this underexplored phenomenon that can be answered by the unique expertise at CSU, and will catalyze the formation of CSU expert teams who will seek external funding for these exciting research directions.

Principal Investigators:

  • Amy Charkowski, Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management
  • Angela Bosco-Lauth, Department of Biomedical Sciences
  • Justin Lee, Next Generation Sequencing Facility
  • Steve Reynolds, Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences
  • Paul DeMott, Department of Atmospheric Science
  • Tom Hill, Department of Atmospheric Science