Mark Williams

220 Ag Quad Ln.
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Associate Professor
School of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Dr. Williams's research is focused on understanding how microbial communities assemble and function in ecosystems, soil, the root-zone, and other numerous habitats found in nature (e.g. honeybee gut). His studies reflect on the mutualistic nature of plant-microbial feedbacks that are a major driver of ecosystems and the global biosphere.
Using next-gen sequencing, LC and GC- mass spectrometry, and tried and true plant, microbial, and soil techniques his lab answers questions about the distribution and function of microbial communities from the scale of the root-zone to the biogeochemical cycles of earth. The lab studies native, remnant and human-managed ecosystems.
Research Interests
Microbial ecology, plant growth promotion, Rhizobium spp., mycorrhizae, land management, natural ecosystems