Contact information
01865 281305
Websites
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Foster Lab
Foster Lab
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https://www.biology.ox.ac.uk/
Department of Zoology
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https://www.bioch.ox.ac.uk/research/foster
Department of Biochemistry
Kevin Foster
Professor of Evolutionary Biology
Research
The lab applies ecological and evolutionary approaches to the study of microbes and the microbiome. The challenge with studying microbial communities is that they contain many evolving and interacting species, which makes them difficult to understand and predict. We combine theory with experimental work to break down this complexity. The lab has a particular interest in the ways that bacteria fight, using toxins and other means, to invade and persist in communities. They also study the ecological networks formed by interacting bacteria, with the goal of predicting and manipulating gut communities for better health.