Esther R. Angert

Esther R. Angert is the Senior Associate Dean and Professor in the Department of Microbiology at Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). Her academic journey includes a B.S. in Biology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a Ph.D. from Indiana University, and postdoctoral work at Harvard University under Dr. Richard Losick. She joined Cornell's faculty in Microbiology in 1995.

Her research focuses on the unique biology of Epulopiscium spp., large intestinal symbionts of tropical surgeonfish. Key areas include cellular adaptations for gigantism, internal offspring formation, and symbiotic relationships in coral reef ecosystems. She also explores microbial diversity, microbial ecology, and genomic architecture of large bacteria. Angert's work bridges basic science and ecological relevance, emphasizing the role of symbiotic microbes in nutrient cycling on coral reefs.

Outreach efforts include K-12 education programs and maintenance of the Epulopiscium website, fostering public engagement and student communication skills. She teaches undergraduate microbiology courses for non-majors, advanced laboratory techniques, and a graduate communications course. Her leadership roles include spearheading curricular updates in microbiology education and fostering interdisciplinary research collaborations.

Her research has been featured in high-impact journals such as ISME Journal, Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology, and Molecular Ecology. She actively collaborates with marine biologists and microbial ecologists to advance understanding of symbiotic systems and microbial contributions to ecosystem health.