David J. Esteban

David J. Esteban is an Associate Professor of Biology at Vassar College. His research investigates gut microbiome impacts on host health and disease, including cancer cachexia and ME/CFS. Additional work characterizes bacterial and viral community dynamics in model sediment ecosystems, developing novel culturing techniques for environmental bacteria and their viruses.

Research employs interdisciplinary approaches combining molecular microbiology, microbial ecology, and host-pathogen interactions. Studies examine microbiome influences on immune function, nervous system development, and host behavior through experimental and observational methods.