Our team of poop scientists
Skye Fishbein, PhD - Assistant Professor
TLDR: soccer, lavender, snakes, salt water, nut butter
Skye completed a BS/MS in Biology at Brandeis University. She caught the infectious disease bug in Cape Town, South Africa, where she did a Fulbright Fellowship under Dr. Rob Warren at Stellenbosch University focused on Mycobacterium tuberculosis pathogenesis. She did her PhD in Dr. Eric Rubin’s lab at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health studying mechanisms of ribosome-based regulation that governs mycobacterial drug susceptibility. For her postdoctoral work, she worked in Dr. Gautam Dantas’ research group at Washington University in St. Louis, focusing on the microbial ecology of Clostridioides difficile infection. Outside of science, she dreams of competing on the survival show Alone.
Gold - Senior Canine
TLDR: trains, squirrels, rabbits, chocolate, butter, coffee
Gold grew up in the Ozarks, but his full story is still being discovered. Gold enjoys pulling Skye on her bike through the city and chasing animals. In honor of his owner’s dedication to understanding the ecology of the gastrointestinal flora, he consistently induces perturbation to his gut microbiome through eating everything from trash to chocolate.
Ryan Phillips, MS - Research Associate (human picture in progress, please accept canine placeholder)
TLDR: bugs, kayaking, art, orange, cryptids
Ryan earned a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Michigan State University, where he monitored the spread of a microsporidian biological control agent, Ovavesicula popilliae, in Japanese beetle populations. He then moved to Appalachia to pursue an MS in Biology at West Virginia University. At WVU, he investigated tsetse fly (Glossina spp.) metabolism, focusing on serine synthesis and transport as stabilizing mechanisms in the tsetse-Wigglesworthia glossinidia symbiosis. This work sparked a continued interest in gut microbial symbiosis and microbiome-pathogen interactions.
Kailey Metz - Undergraduate student
TLDR: genetics, music, plants, friends, nature, sports
Kailey is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Genetics at The Ohio State University, where she is building a foundation in genetics, molecular biology, microbiology, and related experimental and computational approaches. After graduation, she plans to continue on to a PhDPhD and a career in research. She is passionate about how genetics can be applied to address a wide range of problems. Outside of the lab, Kailey enjoys reading, rock climbing, running, playing instruments, and spending time with friends.
