Julie A. Huber

Growth characteristics of natural microbial populations are skewed towards bacteria with low specific growth rates

This study shows that natural microbial communities are dominated by slow-growing bacteria, as evidenced by chemostat experiments and trait-based modeling.

Aquatic bacterial metabolic rates from RNA quantitative stable isotope probing (RNA-qSIP) depend on experimental design

This study shows that experimental design affects qSIP-derived metabolic activity estimates in aquatic bacteria, with chemostats reducing the competitive advantage of fast-growing taxa.

Microbial Growth in an Enceladus Ocean Analog Medium Informed by Mineral Stability Modeling

The paper tests microbial survival in an Enceladus ocean analog medium using thermodynamic modeling and Earth-based samples, finding stress-tolerant heterotrophic bacteria can persist under simulated conditions.

Deriving microbial food web structure by maximizing entropy production over variable timescales

The paper develops an MEP-based model to predict microbial food web structure by optimizing entropy production over short and long timescales, showing differences in community specialization and trophic levels.

Metabolic and Population Profiles of Active Subseafloor Autotrophs in Young Oceanic Crust at Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents

This study identifies active subseafloor autotrophs at deep-sea hydrothermal vents using RNA-SIP and metatranscriptomics, revealing their metabolic strategies and population dynamics.

Virus-mediated recycling of chemoautotrophic biomass

This study identifies virus-mediated recycling of chemoautotrophic biomass in marine environments using metagenomics and isotopic experiments, revealing active viral targeting of specific chemoautotrophs.

A global atlas of subsurface microbiomes reveals phylogenetic novelty, large scale biodiversity gradients, and a marine-terrestrial divide

The paper analyzes subsurface microbiomes globally, finding a marine-terrestrial phylogenetic divide and revealing that marine subsurface environments host significant microbial diversity.

Using maximum entropy production to describe microbial biogeochemistry over time and space in a meromictic pond

The paper applies the maximum entropy production (MEP) conjecture to model microbial biogeochemistry in a meromictic pond, showing that maximizing entropy production over time and space aligns with field observations.

Microbial Communities are Well Adapted to Disturbances in Energy Input

This study shows microbial communities adapt well to energy input disturbances, with internal dynamics driving changes more than external factors.