RESEARCH IN THE GONZALEZ-ORTA LAB

“Despite all our accomplishments, we owe our existence to 6” of topsoil and the fact it rains”
—Anonymous

MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES FOUND IN AGRICULTURAL AND CA VERNAL POOL ENVIRONMENTS

My lab is interested in the role Bacteria play in a variety of ecosystems.  In collaboration with Dr. Amisha Poret-Peterson at the USDA-ARS Crops Pathology and Genetics Research Unit in Davis, CA, we investigate the role of bacteria in the process of anaerobic soil disinfestation.  In addition, I collaborate with Dr. Jamie Kneitel at Sacramento State on the role Bacteria have in the CA Vernal Pool Ecosystem.

TINY EARTH NETWORK AT SACRAMENTO STATE

The Tiny Earth Network, based out of the Wisconsin Institute of Discovery, is an international effort led by scientists to address two critical challenges facing our world today:  1)  Training and retention of diverse undergraduate students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) disciplines, and 2) the rise of antimicrobial resistance in pathogenic bacteria.   Sacramento State is proud to be part of the Tiny Earth Network, and the curriculum is currently implemented in BIO 145:  Diversity of Microorganisms. My lab continues to catalog and study unusual antibiotic-producing bacteria that are found by students in this course.