UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The One Health Microbiome Center (OHMC) in the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences at Penn State has selected the 2025-26 recipients of the Biotechnological and Integrative Opportunities in Microbiome Science (BIOMS) doctoral training fellowship. In this inaugural year, the $2.6 million BIOMS training grant will support 11 doctoral students in their second or third years and representing four departments at the University Park and Hershey campuses. The fellows also represent the breadth of interdisciplinary research underway in the OHMC, with their research areas spanning from amphibian disease ecology to the role of the gut microbiome in Parkinson’s disease.
Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the grant aims to develop workforce leaders in the microbiome sciences and biotechnology. Fellows participate in workshops to develop their technical and professional skills, interact with microbiome researchers and labs across Penn State, enroll in rigorous coursework, and engage in a mentorship/internship program with professionals in the biotechnology sector. In addition to lab training and professional development opportunities, the BIOMS program provides student stipends as well as funds for research-related travel. Fellows are supported for one year as they pursue their doctorates.
The microbiome industry is developing quickly, with the microbial products market predicted to surpass a $351.42 billion market value in the next five years. While the field is still relatively new, the research and development community is homing in on this burgeoning field — demanding a robust and prepared workforce, said Seth Bordenstein, OHMC director, professor of biology and entomology and Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Chair in Microbiome Sciences
“No field of study has a more profound influence on general health than microbiome science,” Bordenstein said. “With the first and only accredited microbiome sciences doctoral program behind them and a bold commitment to setting new research and education standards, Penn State’s doctoral students are leading the way in shaping the future of one of the hottest fields of science today. NIH has recognized their potential and efforts with this new training award that breaks new ground for professional development in microbiome science.”
In August, fellows attended a three-week intensive onboarding dually hosted at both University Park and Hershey campuses. In the first week, students learned microbiome data analysis skills taught by OHMC faculty at the Microbiome Kickstart workshop. In the second week, professional development workshops led by BIOMS program directors and OHMC faculty taught students essentials of science communication, time management, career planning and effective engagement with mentors. Finally, students spent a week in the OHMC Collaboratory, receiving hands-on instruction in microbiome laboratory skills.
The 2025-26 BIOMS fellows are:
- Shane Connolly, doctoral student in biochemistry, microbiology, and molecular biology, advised by Jordan Bisanz
- Kathleen Culhane, doctoral student in biomedical sciences, advised by Che-Yen "Joseph" Wang
- Jessica Gaydos, doctoral student in biomedical sciences, advised by Guy Townsend
- Paula Blanco Ortiz, doctoral student in ecology, advised by Molly Bletz and David Miller
- Talon Jost, doctoral student in ecology, advised by Molly Bletz
- Natalie Ford, doctoral student in ecology, advised by Francisco Dini Andreote
- Erika Biernbaum, doctoral student in food science, advised by Ed Dudley
- Jie Feng, doctoral student in food science, advised by Ed Dudley
- Mackenna Yount, doctoral student in food science, advised by Jasna Kovac
- Yara Calvacante Viera, doctoral student in food science, advised by Jasna Kovac
- Ashley Ohstrom, doctoral student in food science, advised by Jasna Kovac and Josephine Wee
Applications for the 2026-27 BIOMS cohort will open in early 2026. More information can be found on the Huck Training Grants website or the OHMC website, or by contacting Grace Deitzler at gdeitzler@psu.edu.
About the OHMC
As one of the largest and most active units in the field, the OHMC is on a global mission to define the future of health and build a legacy of contributions that promote the general welfare of humans, agriculture and the environment. Learn more on the OHMC website.