Obed Hernández-Gómez, PhD

Obed is an evolutionary ecologist that integrates microbiology, community ecology, and genomics to investigate co-evolutionary associations between hosts and their microbiomes. His lab specializes in studying the microbial symbionts and genetics of amphibians. On a global scale, amphibian populations are declining as a result of habitat loss, pollution, and disease. They apply multiple scientific disciplines (such as those described above) in order to provide solutions to conservation problems. 

His lab interacts with multiple groups outside of Dominican. They collaborate with research institutions such as Binghamton University, UC Berkeley, and the University of Alabama in their research programs. They also have an extensive outreach program that brings them closer to members of the Bay Area community. Outreach programs include K-12 show-and-tell school visits, collaborations with educators to produce K-12 science lesson plans, and visits to local zoos/herpetology clubs. 

Education*

Purdue University, PhD, Conservation Genetics

Texas Tech University, BS, Biological Sciences

Research Interests

Obed's research focuses on characterizing variation in amphibian skin microbiotas and determining the effect differences in microbial community composition have on host phenotypes. He applies a combination of traditional microbiological techniques and high-throughput DNA sequencing of microbial and host samples to holistically describe host-microbe associations, evaluate changes in microbial communities over time, and describe the contribution of microbial symbionts to host physiological processes. 

*First Generation to College Graduate