Sarah Knowles

Dr. Sarah Knowles is an Associate Professor of Ecosystem Biology at the University of Oxford, leading the Knowles Lab and serving as a Tutorial Fellow at Keble College. Her research focuses on understanding the mammalian microbiome in natural settings, particularly in wild mice and rodents. By integrating field studies, experiments, computational methods, and comparative analyses, her work explores how microbiomes are shaped by environmental factors and social interactions, and how they influence host biology and health.

Her research addresses fundamental questions about microbiome dynamics in wild systems, contrasting findings from laboratory models. Key areas include gut microbiota assembly patterns, parasite-microbiota interactions, epigenetic aging, and the impact of environmental changes like temperature on microbial communities. Dr. Knowles collaborates internationally on initiatives like the global hologenomics project and contributes to conservation efforts through studies on endangered species like the Saiga antelope.

As a Tutorial Fellow at Keble College, she supports undergraduate education in biological sciences. Her lab actively seeks graduate students and postdocs interested in microbiome research, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches. Despite no listed awards, her extensive publication record reflects significant contributions to microbiology and ecology.