Katherine Paige Lemon

Katherine Paige Lemon is an Associate Professor at Baylor College of Medicine, holding dual appointments in the Department of Molecular Virology & Microbiology and the Pediatric-Infectious Diseases division. She is also affiliated with the Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research and the Immunology and Microbiology (IY) Graduate Program. Her research focuses on the human nasal microbiome, microbial interactions, and their implications for health and disease.

Education:

• AB in Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations, Harvard University
• PhD in Biology from MIT (Laboratory of Dr. Alan Grossman)
• MD from Harvard Medical School
• Postdoctoral Training at Harvard Medical School with Dr. Roberto Kolter

Research Interests:

Dr. Lemon’s work explores the complex microbial communities in the human nose, investigating how beneficial bacteria like Dolosigranulum pigrum and Corynebacterium species combat pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus. Her lab studies metabolic interactions, microbial competition, and the impact of these dynamics on antibiotic resistance and disease prevention.

Grants:

• Funding Mechanisms of Corynebacterium-Dolosigranulum Interactions (NIH NIGMS, 2021–2026)
• Microbiome Discovery to Combat Antibiotic Resistance (NIH NIAID, 2021–2026)

Labs/Teams: Her research is conducted within the Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, focusing on experimental and computational approaches to study microbial ecosystems.