Garden State Microbiome

In this episode of The Garden State Microbiome, we’re joined by Dr. Lynn Silver, a microbiologist whose career spans the evolution of modern antibiotic discovery—from early bench science to leading antibacterial teams at Merck & Co., and later, advising biotech firms across the globe.Dr. Silver shares lessons from decades spent developing antibacterial compounds, emphasizing that single-target drugs often fail the test of time—they're too easy for bacteria to outwit. Instead, the future lies

In this episode of The Garden State Microbiome, we sit down with Dr. Tom Silhavy, a molecular biology legend whose pioneering research has shaped how we understand bacterial membranes, protein localization, and gene regulation in Escherichia coli.Tom takes us on a remarkable journey, starting with his early days in Big Rapids, Michigan, where he studied pharmacy at Ferris State College before discovering his passion for biochemistry through undergraduate research. From there, we follow his

In this episode of The Garden State Microbiome, we are honored to host Dr. Robert M. Goodman, a distinguished plant biologist and virologist whose career has significantly influenced the fields of plant pathology, microbial ecology, and agricultural biotechnology. Dr. Goodman served as the Executive Dean of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Rutgers University from 2005 to 2020 and was named University Professor and Executive Dean Emeritus in 2020 (deenr.rutgers.edu).Dr. Goodman's academic journey

In this episode of The Garden State Microbiome, we are honored to feature Dr. Bradley I.Hillman, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Plant Biology at Rutgers University. Dr.Hillman is a leading figure in fungal virology, plant pathology, and the molecular biology ofplant and fungal viruses, with a distinguished career spanning more than 30 years.Dr. Hillman’s research has significantly advanced our understanding of how fungal virusesinfluence plant diseases, particularly in economically

In this episode of The Garden State Microbiome, we are delighted to feature Dr. Donald Y. Kobayashi, Professor and Chair of the Department of Plant Biology at Rutgers University. Dr. Kobayashi is a nationally recognized expert in plant pathology, microbiology, and biological control, with a distinguished career devoted to understanding bacterial-plant interactions and microbial solutions to agricultural challenges.Dr. Kobayashi’s research has made major contributions to the biological control of

Joan W. Bennett is a Distinguished Plant Biology and Pathology Professor at Rutgers University. She is a pioneer in fungal genetics, recognized internationally for her groundbreaking research on fungal toxins, volatile organic compounds, and the genomics of Aspergillus and Penicillium species.Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Bennett has significantly contributed to understanding how fungi interact with their environments, how mycotoxins impact food safety and public health, and how fungal

Max Häggblom is the Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology at Rutgers University. He is an internationally recognized leader in environmental microbiology. Originally from Finland, Dr. Häggblom earned his Ph.D. from the University of Helsinki before making his mark in the U.S., first at New York University and later at Rutgers, where he has been a key faculty member since 1993. His research focuses on microbial biodegradation and biotransformation of

Dr. Lee Kerkhof is a renowned marine microbiologist at Rutgers University, where he has been a part of the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences since 1994. With a nearly three-decade-long career, he has significantly contributed to our understanding of microbial life in marine environments.Dr. Kerkhof’s academic journey began with a B.Sc. in Marine Science and Biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, followed by a Ph.D. in Marine Biology from the prestigious Scripps Institution