The Handelsman Lab uses multidisciplinary techniques to understand the structure and function of microbiomes
Our lab applies metagenomics, genetics, and small molecule chemistry, to study biochemistry and genetic regulation of antibiotic production, microbial diversity, antibiotic resistance, and symbioses in communities in soil, on plant roots, and in the human gut. We developed a three-species model community to study the nature of community robustness, invasion processes, and emergent properties of microbial communities, named THOR for “The Hitchhikers of the Rhizosphere.” The Handelsman Lab also houses the Tiny Earth Chemistry Hub, a research center focused on expanding the work of Tiny Earth to discover novel antibiotic compounds from soil bacteria.
Welcome and AJEDI Statement
Diversity is essential for great science. Research and our experience both show that diverse groups generate better ideas and more creative solutions to problems than homogeneous groups. By recruiting diverse people to the Handelsman lab and empowering every member of our group to contribute to the scientific discourse, we can achieve our scientific potential.
We welcome and value diverse people in our lab and expect each lab member to uphold high standards of integrity and respect. We do not tolerate discrimination based on, but not limited to, ability, age, experience, and identities such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and religion. We believe that each of us has a responsibility to prevent or address unfair behaviors within our lab and scientific environments and to contribute to a welcoming environment.

We aim to build a safe, welcoming, and supportive lab environment by
- acknowledging each lab member’s needs and unique voice
- trusting one another to hear and be heard
- ensuring that discourse is respectful and supportive
- dynamically assessing the social climate of our lab individually and together to improve the environment for all
Our lab adheres to the principles of AJEDI, which stands for antiracism, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Featured Publications
Microbiome Composition Modulates Secondary Metabolism in a Multispecies Bacterial Community
Marc G. Chevrette, Chris S. Thomas, Amanda Hurley, Natalia Rosario-Meléndez, Kris Sankaran, Yixing Tu, Austin Hall, Shruthi Magesh, and Jo Handelsman
PNAS (2022)
Evolutionary Genome Mining for the Discovery and Engineering of Natural Product Biosynthesis
Marc G. Chevrette, Nelly Selem-Mojica, César Aguilar, Kristin Labby, Edder D. Bustos-Diaz, Jo Handelsman, and Francisco Barona-Gómez
Methods in Molecular Biology (2022)
Achieving STEM Diversity: Fix the Classrooms
Jo Handelsman, Sarah Elgin, Mica Estrada, Shan Hays, Tracy Johnson, Sarah Miller, Vida Mingo, Christopher Shaffer, and Jason Williams
Science (2022)
THOR’s Hammer: the Antibiotic Koreenceine Drives Gene Expression in a Model Microbial Community
Amanda Hurley, Marc G. Chevrette, Natalia Rosario-Meléndez, and Jo Handelsman
mBio (2022)
Recent News
Jo Handelsman Presents at iFAST Seminar
This seminar is part of the International Forum on Advanced Environmental Sciences and Technology (iFAST) seminar series at the University of Oklahoma. Jo Handelsman discusses the importance of soil, the reasons we are losing soil at devastating rates, and practices to improve soil health in this talk, titled A World Without Soil: Science and Stewardship of our Endangered Natural Resource.
Handelsman Lab and Tiny Earth Represent at Illuminating Connections
Illuminating Connections Handelsman Lab members engaged with other researchers and the general public at Illuminating Connections. We had posters and activities about Tiny Earth, the Tiny Earth Chemistry Hub, and our research on microbial communities!
Collaborative research project finds bacterial “Zorbs” – A new type of bacterial social motility
Researchers from the Handelsman, Beebe, and Pan labs discover bacterial "zorbing," in the motile species, Flavobacterium johnsoniae.
Available Now!
A World Without Soil: The Past, Present, and Precarious Future of the Earth Beneath our Feet
By Jo Handelsman
Learn more at www.soilrocks.org