Location: In person, Davis, CA
Date: Tentatively, mid-September (Dates will be finalized by mid-June 2026)

Format: 2-day workshop
Participants will stay in Davis, CA (housing will be covered by the Phage Pathways Program).
Workshop focus: Sample collection and processing, along with a viral DNA extraction protocol optimized by Joanne Emerson’s lab.

Emerson Lab Interests:
Led by Dr. Joanne Emerson, the lab studies how viruses shape microbial communities in soils and plant-associated environments. Using metagenomics and bioinformatics, the team uncovers viral diversity and investigates how viruses influence ecosystem processes such as carbon and nutrient cycling, particularly under environmental changes like drought or agricultural management. Their work highlights viruses as dynamic regulators of microbial communities and explores their potential applications in improving soil health and sustainable agriculture.