Holly Moeller

Research Interests

Professor Moeller is a mathematical biologist who uses a combination of calculus-based approaches, laboratory experiments, and field observations to understand metabolic interactions among species. In particular, she studies acquired metabolism, metabolic pathways that are not encoded in an organism's genome, but rather accessed through interactions (such as predation, horizontal gene transfer, or metabolic mutualism) with another species. These acquisitions fundamentally change how organisms make their livings, and can be harnessed to design new microbial engines and promote the stability of ecological communities.