This Project Grant from the National Science Foundation Division of Environmental Biology will fund research into leveraging soil viromics to study ecological patterns in complex soil microbial communities. The $820,312 award to the University of California, Davis from January 15, 2023 to December 31, 2027 will elucidate the spatiotemporal dynamics of soil viruses at the UC Davis Jepson Prairie Natural Reserve. Researchers will compare viral community biogeography and succession patterns within and across two grassland habitats with different levels of soil mixing. They will also explore viral dormancy and seed banks' role in maintaining soil viral diversity, particularly in seasonally dry soils. Additionally, the award will pilot an undergraduate bioinformatics course consisting of hands-on computational analysis modules co-led by postdoctoral researchers. This work aligns with the goals of the NSF's Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) to increase scientific knowledge and understanding of major biological problems.
Generated 1/6/24, 11:19 PM