Achievement

The second year IGERT students in Geobiological Systems finished a two-semester course integrating teaching and research concepts of systems biology. The class developed a conceptual as well as detailed network model of acidic Fe-oxidizing microbial communities in geothermal outflow channels of Yellowstone National Park. The modeling case study investigated tools for constructing community network models and indicated fundamental needs in metabolomic and proteomic analyses to aid in determining usage frequency of specific biochemical pathways and the dynamics of metabolite interactions among different community members. The IGERT students will continue working on this case study for possible manuscript submission above and beyond their individual research programs.