My lab investigates the social lives of marine bacteria, how they interact with their surrounding environment, and how these interactions impact the ecosystems they inhabit. Currently our projects focus on bacterial symbionts and pathogens of marine invertebrates with an emphasis on Scleractinian corals.

My lab's research uses interdisciplinary approaches to address questions about marine microbial ecology. Using a combination of genetic, molecular, bioinformatic, and in vivo experimentation, our work aims to provide insights into fundamental microbiology, symbiosis establishment & maintenance, and disease progression & mitigation. laurenspeare@gatech.edu