US DAVIS HESS LABORATORY

Contact

    Hess Lab
    University of California Davis
    Department of Animal Science
    2251 Meyer Hall
    Davis, CA 95616
    USA

    Email: mhess@ucdavis.edu
    Phone: +1 530 752 8809
    Fax: +1 530 752 0172

    Our Team

    Conducting Applied & Fundamental Microbial Ecology
    to
    Secure & Improve Ecosystem Health

    Current members

    Undergraduate Research Intern Genesis Lizardo Learn More
    Visiting Scholar Claire Bularon Salvedia Learn More

    Hess Lab Alumni

    Alumni Stephanie Martinez-Beltran LinkedIn
    Alumni Claire Shaw, PhD LinkedIn
    Alumni Lyndsey Marsh LinkedIn
    Alumni Angela Sahagun LinkedIn
    Alumni Tom (Zihan) Li LinkedIn
    Alumni Carly Sweeney LinkedIn
    Alumni Jillian Jordan LinkedIn
    Alumni Elizabeth Anderson LinkedIn
    Alumni Breanna Roque LinkedIn
    Alumni Abbey Pfefferlen LinkedIn
    Alumni Maria Gonzalez LinkedIn
    Alumni Ellen Lai, BSc
    Alumni Jessica Mizzi, BSc
    Alumni Susan Parkyn
    Alumni Kayla Hearn
    Alumni Alexandra Henry
    Alumni Elizabeth Coon LinkedIn

    Join our team

    We are looking for talented students and postdocs to help our research. Interested? Send us an email to find out more.

    inquire now
    Group Lead Matthias Hess, PhD linkedinLinkedIn Profile

    Current Position

    Professor (Functional Systems Microbiology): University of California Davis, CA, USA

    Principal Investigator, Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California Davis, Berkeley, CA, USA

    Previous Positions

    Assistant Professor (Functional Systems Microbiology): University of California Davis, CA, USA – 2014 to 2021

    Assistant Professor (Systems Microbiology): Washington State University, Richland, WA, USA – 2011 to 2014

    Staff Scientist (Chemical and Biological Process Development Group): Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA – 2011 to 2014

    Adjunct Scientist (Microbial Genomics Group): DOE Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA, USA – 2011 to 2018

    Postdoctoral Fellow (Microbial Genomics; Bioprospecting): Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA; DOE Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA, USA – 2007 to 2010

    Degrees

    PhD (Microbiology & Biotechnology): Hamburg University of Technology, Hamburg, Germany – 2007

    MSc (Microbiology & Limnology): University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany – 2004

    BSc (Microbial Ecology & Botany): University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany – 1999

    Honors & Service

    Faculty Award for Outstanding Mentorship, University Honors Program, University of California, Davis, CA – 2021

    User Executive Committee Chair, DOE Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA – Since 2021

    User Executive Committee Member, DOE Environmental Molecular Science Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA – 2014 to 2017

    Wiley Research Fellow: DOE Environmental Molecular Science Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA – 2012 to 2017

    Others

    Chief Editor: Frontiers in Systems Microbiology, Nature Publishing Group – since 2013

    Graduate Groups

    Microbiology Graduate Group

    Animal Biology Graduate Group

    Biological Systems Engineering Graduate Group

    Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Development Biology Graduate Group

    Current Program

    College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences – Professor in Microbiology

    Scientific Interest

    Systems Microbiology (Microbial Ecology)

    Host-Microbe Interactions

    Microbiome Engineering

    Anaerobic Microbiology

    Natural Products

    Biotechnology

    Specialist 1 Saumya Wickramasinghe, PhD, MS BVSc linkedinLinkedIn Profile

    Degrees:
    PhD (Animal Biology): University of California, Davis, USA
    MS (Animal Science): Oklahoma State University, USA
    BVSc University Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

    Scientific Interest:
    Interactions of probiotics and prebiotics with the gut microbiota

    Postdoctoral Scholar Pedro Romero, PhD linkedinLinkedIn Profile

    Degrees:
    Postdoctoral Fellowship (System Microbiology and Natural Products Laboratory): University of California Davis, CA, US (In progress)
    PhD (Fundamental and Systems Biology): University of Granada, Spain – 2023
    MS (Agriculture Biology and Aquaculture): University of Granada, Spain – 2019
    BS (Biochemistry): University of Seville, Spain – 2018

    Scientific Interest:
    Methanogens
    Anaerobic fermentation
    Rumen Microbiology
    Methane mitigation strategies
    Microbe-microbe and microbe-host interaction in the rumen
    Use of feed-additives and microbial genome engineering to reduce enteric methane production and improve animal performance

    Postdoctoral Scholar Theano Stoikidou, PhD linkedinLinkedIn Profile

    Degrees:
    PhD (Rumen Microbial Culturomics): Queen’s University Belfast, United Kingdom – 2026
    MSc (Leadership for Sustainable Development): Queen’s University Belfast, United Kingdom – 2022
    BSc (Chemistry): University of Ioannina, Greece – 2020

    Interests:
    Rumen microbial ecology, anaerobic microbiology, host-microbiome interactions

    Lab Manager/Junior Specialist Julie Hahn linkedinLinkedIn Profile

    Degree:
    BS (Biotechnology): University of California, Davis, USA – 2025

    Interests:
    Human and animal gut microbiome, microbe-host interaction

    Junior Specialist Elizabeth Liu linkedinLinkedIn Profile

    Degree:
    BS (Animal Biology): University of California, Davis, USA – 2024

    Interests:
    Methane mitigation through feed additives

    Junior Specialist Katie Huezo linkedinLinkedIn Profile

    Degree:
    BS (Animal Science): University of California, Davis, USA – 2024

    Interests:
    Ruminant nutrition and rumen fermentation

    Junior Specialist Audrey Pimienta linkedinLinkedIn Profile

    Degree:
    BS (Biotechnology): University of California, Davis, USA – 2025

    Interests:
    Gut microbiome impact on health and environment

    Junior Specialist Abigail Allen linkedinLinkedIn Profile

    Degree:
    BS (Biotechnology): University of California, Davis, USA – 2024

    Interests:
    Microbial/strain engineering

    PhD Candidate Rich Duong linkedinLinkedIn Profile

    Degrees:
    PhD (Animal Biology): University of California, Davis, USA – in progress
    MS (Animal Biology): University of California, Davis, USA – 2024

    Interests:
    Redirection of hydrogen utilization in the rumen

    Undergraduate Research Intern Clara Lee linkedinLinkedIn Profile

    Degree:
    Animal Science

    Scientific Interest:
    Veterinary Medicine

    Undergraduate Research Intern Juliana Chang linkedinLinkedIn Profile

    Degree:
    Animal Science

    Scientific Interest:
    Livestock Nutrition and Health

    Undergraduate Research Intern Sydney Cheng linkedinLinkedIn Profile

    Degree:
    Animal Science

    Scientific Interest:
    Animal Science and Microbiology (Pre-Vet)

    Undergraduate Research Intern Kalleah Jimenez linkedinLinkedIn Profile

    Degree Pursuing:
    Animal Science

    Scientific Interest:
    Veterinary Medicine

    Undergraduate Research Intern Andrea Perez Ruano linkedinLinkedIn Profile

    Degree Pursuing:
    Medical and Molecular Microbiology

    Scientific Interest:
    Application of Microbiology in Medicine

    Undergraduate Research Intern Rachel Christian linkedinLinkedIn Profile

    Degree:
    BS (Animal Science): University of California, Davis, USA – in progress

    Interests:
    Veterinary medicine

    Undergraduate Research Intern Soh-Young Lee linkedinLinkedIn Profile

    Degree:
    BS (Animal Science): University of California, Davis, USA – in progress

    Interests:
    Veterinary medicine

    Undergraduate Research Intern Garrett Chin linkedinLinkedIn Profile

    Degree:
    BS (Animal Science): University of California, Davis, USA – in progress

    Interests:
    Veterinary medicine, metagenomic interactions, epidemiology

    Undergraduate Research Intern Aditi Gupta linkedinLinkedIn Profile

    Degree:
    BS (Animal Science): University of California, Davis, USA – in progress

    Interests:
    Veterinary medicine, animal behavior research

    Undergraduate Research Intern Joelle Kim linkedinLinkedIn Profile

    Degree:
    BS (Animal Science and Management): University of California, Davis, USA – in progress

    Interests:
    Animal health

    Undergraduate Research Intern Anna Kwan linkedinLinkedIn Profile

    Degree:
    BS (Animal Science): University of California, Davis, USA – in progress

    Interests:
    Veterinary medicine, immunology (gut-microbiome), veterinary pathology & epidemiology

    Undergraduate Research Intern Genesis Lizardo

    Degree:
    BS (Animal Science): University of California, Davis, USA – in progress

    Interests:
    Veterinary medicine

    Undergraduate Research Intern Khushi Modi linkedinLinkedIn Profile

    Degree:
    BS (Animal Science): University of California, Davis, USA – in progress

    Interests:
    Rumen fermentation

    Undergraduate Research Intern Herton Zhang linkedinLinkedIn Profile

    Degree:
    BS (Animal Science): University of California, Davis, USA – in progress

    Interests:
    Microbe-host interaction and rumen fermentation

    Administrative Assistant Alejandra Nava linkedinLinkedIn Profile

    Degree Pursuing:
    Animal Science

    Scientific Interest:
    Veterinary Medicine

    Administrative Assistant Sofia Trombetta linkedinLinkedIn Profile

    Degree Pursuing:
    Animal Science

    Scientific Interest:
    Veterinary Medicine

    Administrative Assistant Amy Quintero linkedinLinkedIn Profile

    Degree:
    BS (Animal Science): University of California, Davis, USA – in progress

    Interests:
    Animal nutrition, genetics, exotic animals, production and environment management

    Administrative Assistant Jasmin Arjon Vargas linkedinLinkedIn Profile

    Degree:
    BS (Animal Science): University of California, Davis, USA – in progress

    Interests:
    Veterinary medicine

    Visiting Scholar Claire Bularon Salvedia

    Degrees:
    PhD (Animal Science): University of the Philippines, Los Baños, Philippines

    Interests:
    Rumen fermentation and animal nutrition