Associate ProfessorHeather Hendrickson

My research focuses on microbial evolution, bacterial genomics, and bacteriophage biology, with strong links to biotechnology, biosecurity, and applied microbiology.  

In my lab, I use experimental evolution, adaptive laboratory evolution, genome sequencing, cell biology, and bacterial genetics to understand how microorganisms adapt, innovate, and evolve.  

A central theme of my work is horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and its influence on chromosome architecture, virulence, and bacterial cell shape. I am particularly interested in the discovery and application of bacteriophages as phage‑based biocontrol tools, including strategies to combat antibiotic‑resistant bacteria, American foulbrood in honeybees, and emerging challenges in aquaculture.  

My research also explores host–microbe interactions, protozoan predation, and endosymbiosis, connecting fundamental evolutionary processes to real‑world problems in health, food security, and environmental sustainability.