Position: Ph.D. Candidate (2014-), Department of Genome Science & Technology
dan.kehila[at]msl.ubc.ca
Link: ResearchGate
Education:
B.Sc. (2014) Honours University of British Columbia Okanagan – Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology
Background:
I came to the Tokuriki lab with research experience in soil and agricultural sciences. I was fascinated by microbial communities in soils, and the evolution of Enhanced Biodegradation: microbes with manmade pollutant-degrading phenotypes (pesticides, hydrocarbons, etc.). My current project is a marriage of my fascination with microbial communities, and Tokuriki lab’s penchant for understanding enzyme evolution.
Research Interests:
I am researching the evolution of codependent microbial systems in Enhanced Biodegradative Consortia: groups of interacting microbes that collectively degrade manmade pollutants. Evidence from polluted habitats points to the rapid evolution of highly concerted and stable cooperativity between unrelated microbes, and that is to be explained by natural selection. To this end we adopt a combination of theoretical modelling, and the culturing of codependent synthetic consortia.