معرفی
Robert Edwards is the Matthew Flinders Professor of Bioinformatics and Director of the Flinders Accelerator for Microbiome Exploration (FAME) at Flinders University, Adelaide. His academic journey includes a BSc (Hons) from De Montfort University and a PhD in Microbial Genetics from the University of Sussex. He has held roles at institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania, University of Illinois, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, and San Diego State University, where he rose to Full Professor. His research focuses on bioinformatics, microbiology, and virology, particularly in understanding viral interactions with hosts and microbiome dynamics. Edwards has pioneered tools like RAST and MG-RAST for genomic analysis and has conducted groundbreaking fieldwork, including metagenomics studies of coral reefs and global phage identification.
Education:
- BSc (1st Class Hons), De Montfort University
- PhD in Microbial Genetics, University of Sussex
Research Interests:
Edwards' work spans computational genomics, microbial pathogenesis, and phage therapy. He investigates how viruses influence human and environmental microbiomes, develops bioinformatics tools for genome analysis, and explores applications of phages in combating antibiotic resistance. His lab contributes to global initiatives like the Flinders Accelerator for Microbiome Exploration (FAME), integrating computational and experimental approaches.
Awards & Recognition:
- American Academy of Microbiology Fellow
- Kavli Frontiers Fellow (National Academy of Sciences)
- SDSU's Outstanding International Scholar
- Rudi Lemberg Travelling Fellowship (Australian Academy of Sciences)
Grants & Funding: Over $10M in extramural funding for research on microbiomes, phage therapy, and bioinformatics tool development. Collaborations include Argonne National Labs, the Fellowship for the Interpretation of Genomes (FIG), and global networks like the Global Phage Host Prediction Consortium.
Labs & Teams: Leads the EdwardsLab at Flinders University, focusing on bioinformatics, phage genomics, and microbiome exploration. Collaborates internationally on projects such as the Virome Global Initiative and coral reef metagenomics.
