Interactions at plant-microbe interfaces shape much of the life on our planet. The microbes at interfaces with living plants can positively or negatively affect the growth, health, and productivity of the plants that feed our world. And, the microbes at interfaces with dead plants decompose the complex polymers that make up plant biomass releasing their carbon to the environment. 

The Conway Lab uses genetic engineering of non-model bacteria found at plant-microbe interfaces and chemical & biological engineering of their pathways and products to mechanistically define consequential plant-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions. Then, using this mechanistic understanding, we engineer these bacteria, plants, and their interactions to develop new technologies for the bio-agriculture, bio-energy, and bio-chemical industries.