The Nexus of Precision Microbiome Engineering

Speaker: Claudia K. Gunsch, PhD, Duke University
Location: 1047 ERF

Abstract: Microbial communities play a fundamental role across ecosystems, performing functions essential for environmental resilience, human health, and ecological stability. While pathogenic traits often dominate the focus of microbiology, the vast potential of beneficial microbes, particularly in biodegradation and environmental remediation, has led to the emergence of the field of precision microbiome engineering. This seminar will examine recent advances in microbiome engineering for targeted bioremediation applications, wherein approaches such as biostimulation, bioaugmentation, and genetic bioaugmentation can be employed to optimize microbial degradation of environmental contaminants. The integration of high-throughput genomic sequencing and sophisticated computational models has enabled enhanced prediction, manipulation, and control of microbial dynamics, fostering more precise intervention strategies. In addition to environmental applications, similar methodologies can be applied within the built environment to engineer microbiomes that mitigate pathogen colonization while enhancing human health. This approach leverages ecological principles to curate microbial communities that support resilience against pathogenic invasions in controlled environments. Through interdisciplinary insights in genomics, synthetic biology, and environmental engineering, this seminar will explore the intersection of microbiome engineering, contaminant remediation, and built environment optimization, paving the way for innovations in sustainable ecosystem management and public health protection.

Speaker Bio: Claudia Gunsch is the Muriel Theodorsen Williams E’46 Distinguished Professors of Civil & Environmental Engineering at Duke University. She holds secondary appointments in the Nicholas School of the Environment and the Department of Biomedical Engineering. She joined the Duke fFaculty in 2004 after obtaining her PhD from the University of Texas at Austin, her MS from Clemson University and her BS from Purdue University. She serves as the director for PreMiEr, the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Precision Microbiome Engineering, which is a joint venture between Duke University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, and the University of North Carolina – Charlotte. She also serves as an associate director for the Duke Microbiome Center. Previous leadership roles include serving as associate dean for research and infrastructure for the Pratt School of Engineering (2021-2022), associate vice provost for faculty advancement (2019-2021), and the director of IBIEM (Integrative Bioinformatics for Investigating and Engineering Microbiomes), a joint graduate training program between Duke and North Carolina A&T State University (2015-2021).
Gunsch’s research bridges environmental engineering and molecular biotechnology. Current research foci include investigating the ecological impacts of emerging contaminants on environmental microbiomes, developing microbiome engineering approaches for bioremediation, studying microbial evolution following exposure to anthropogenic contaminants and developing innovative water treatment technologies. Her work has been funded in excess of $36 million by the National Science Foundation, US Environmental Protection Agency, National Institute for Environmental Health and Safety as well as state funding agencies and private industry. Since becoming a faculty member, she has served as the primary mentor for 30 graduate students (eight MS and 22 PhD), 38 undergraduate students and eight postdoctoral associates. She has been recognized for her research, teaching and service activities with several awards including the 2009 National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Award, 2013 Langford Lectureship Award, 2016 Capers and Marion McDonald Award for Excellence in Mentoring and Advising and the 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize. Gunsch was also named ASCE Environmental & Water Resources Institute Fellow in 2022, Bass Fellow in 2016 and Fellow of the National Academy of Engineering for the United States Frontiers of Engineering in 2011 as well as the Indo-American Frontiers of Engineering in 2014.
She currently serves as editor in chief for Biodegradation. She is also a member of the editorial board for npj Clean Water and Industrial Biotechnology. She serves on the association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP) Board of Directors and has previously held several leadership roles within the Environmental & Water Resources Institute (EWRI). Most recently, she served as the Environmental Council representative to the Technical Executive Committee to EWRI. At Duke, beyond her administrative roles, some of Gunsch’s significant service activities have included serving as an elected member of the Executive Committee of the Academic Council (ECAC), the Graduate Faculty (ECGF), chair of Engineering Faculty Council as well as the faculty chair for the Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the Pratt School of Engineering.