Dr. Robeson’s research integrates bioinformatics, microbial ecology, and multi-omics approaches, to investigate how the host-microbiome affects nutritional interventions and cancer-based therapeutics.
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
- Translational Bioinformatics
- Microbiome Science
Microbial community dynamics, disease resistance, human health, and agricultural productivity are all highly affected by, or dependent upon, microbes. Resident microbiota are known to influence host-targeted chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments, and have been shown to substantially affect clinical outcomes, e.g. mediating therapeutic efficacy. Similarly, the presence of cancer alone, or even anticancer treatments, can negatively affect the host’s healthy microbial profile leading to dysbiosis (imbalance of microbial homeostatis). These dysbiotic microbial communities can exacerbate cancer pathogenesis and progression, further altering therapeutic outcomes. Additionally, dysbiotic microbial communities have also been implicated in a variety neurological, cognitive, and behavioral deficit of several diseases and anticancer therapeutics. Much of which are thought to be mediated through the “gut-microbiome-brain-axis.
Dr. Robeson has formal training in both wet-lab (biochemistry, molecular biology, field biology, and ecology, etc.), and dry-lab (bioinformatics, microbiome, and metagenomics analyses, etc.). Dr. Robeson has been continually involved in the development of a variety of open-source multi-omics tools that enable other researchers to better investigate complex biological systems.
Dr. Robeson is currently an Associate Editor at npj Biofilms and Microbiomes. Prior to joining UAMS, Dr. Robeson served as a microbiomics and bioinformatics consultant (formally known as Interstitial Genomics, LLC) for several academic, national, and private-sector research laboratories.
EDUCATION:
Graduate School PhD/EdD: University of Colorado at Boulder
Graduate School Masters: University of South Florida
Undergrad Bachelors: University of Tampa
PAST & CURRENT STUDENTS:
- Metu Osele, Graduated with M.S. in December 2022. Currently employed at University Hospitals in Cleveland Ohio, as a Bioinformatician.