Federico Lauro

Assoc Prof Federico Lauro is a marine microbial ecologist formally affiliated with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) through its Asian School of the Environment. His research focuses on microbial communities in marine environments, particularly in the Indian Ocean, leveraging environmental genomics and innovative technologies to study ecological connectivity and microbial adaptation. He leads the Singapore Laboratory for Integrative Microbial Ecology (S.L.I.M.E. Lab), which investigates topics ranging from deep-sea corrosion mechanisms to the application of environmental DNA (eDNA) in paleoenvironmental studies. Lauro holds a PhD from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and has pioneered interdisciplinary approaches combining microbiology with engineering. Notably, he previously collaborated with Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE) and Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI). Despite his academic achievements, he is no longer with NTU. Beyond academia, Lauro is an accomplished sailor with international championships and extensive oceanic racing experience.

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree from University of Padua, Italy
• PhD from Scripps Institution of Oceanography (UC San Diego)

Research Interests:

• Marine microbiome dynamics under environmental stressors
• Microbial contributions to biogeochemical cycles
• Development of genomic tools for microbial ecology analysis
• Applications of eDNA in paleoenvironmental reconstruction

Labs/Teams: Leads the S.L.I.M.E. Lab at NTU, collaborating with interdisciplinary centers like SCELSE and NEWRI to address environmental challenges through microbial solutions.