Microbial ecology is an incredibly diverse field that explores the roles of microbial community metabolism in the natural environment, areas contaminated by human activity, industrial settings, the human body, and applications in biotechnology. Dr. Feris’ research focuses on the application of the tools and understanding of microbial ecology to enhance our ability to utilize the metabolism of microorganisms for a variety of applications, including natural resource damage assessment, alternative energy generation, bioremediation, and biotechnology.