Research/Career Interests:
Rory's research focused on an unusual group of predatory bacteria, Bacteriovorax. Bacteriovorax prey exclusively on wide range of gram negative bacteria including many known pathogens. These bacteria have a biphasic lifestyle which consist of an attack-phase: fast free-living, highly motile predators; and growth-phase: the intercellular non-motile, replicative cells. I am interested in studying the role of Bacteriovorax in altering or maintaining the structure and the function of microbial communities that exist on and within living organisms. Recently I had the opportunity to take part in a research expedition in Antarctica with fellow OSU researcher Dr. Andrew Thurber to study soft sediment benthic communities. My main research goal was to add a targeted metagenomics approach to the microbial ecology aspects of the Antarctica research project. I was also able to sample for previously undetected strains of the unique Bacteriovorax predators while SCUBA diving under the ice.
