Garret Suen

Garret Suen is a Full Professor in the Department of Bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He holds the Alfred Toepfer Faculty Fellow title. His research focuses on herbivore-associated microbial ecology, rumen microbiology, and applications in biofuel production and animal health. Suen's work bridges microbial community dynamics with ecosystem functioning, particularly in ruminants, and explores symbiotic relationships influencing nutrient conversion and host health.

• Educations:
• B.Sc. Biological Sciences, University of Calgary (2000)
• B.Sc. Computer Sciences, University of Calgary (2002)
• M.Sc. Computer Sciences, University of Calgary (2004)
• Ph.D. Biology, Syracuse University (2008)
• Postdoctoral Research at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Research interests include understanding microbial evolution across host diets, plant biomass degradation mechanisms, and microbiome impacts on milk production and human health analogs. His lab studies ruminal microbiota interactions, biofuel applications, and gut microbiota development in calves. Key achievements include identifying cellulose-degrading mechanisms in rumen bacteria like Ruminococcus albus and advancing non-invasive sampling methods (e.g., oral swabs for rumen microbiome analysis).

Recent studies highlight ergot alkaloid effects on cattle microbiomes, antibiotic resistance in dairy farms, and microbiota shifts during hibernation. Suen collaborates on grants through programs like the Molecular Biosciences Training Grant and Microbes in Health and Disease Training Program.

• Awards: Alfred Toepfer Faculty Fellow
• Students: Ariela Burk, Courtney Deblois, Nolan Amon

His lab personnel actively investigate microbial community structures, with ongoing projects on dairy cattle microbiota, antibiotic resistance epidemiology, and stable fly pathogen prevalence. Collaborative efforts include cheese ripening board microbiota studies and canine gut health supplements.