Sergio Munoz-Gomez

Sergio Munoz-Gomez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Purdue University's College of Science. His research focuses on evolutionary transitions in cellular complexity, particularly the origin of eukaryotes and symbiotic mechanisms driving organelle formation.

Education:

• EMBO Postdoctoral Fellow, Universite Paris-Saclay, France
• Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2018), Dalhousie University, Canada
• B.Sc. Honors in Biology (2013), Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia

Research Interests: Dr. Munoz-Gomez investigates fundamental questions in evolutionary cell biology, including the emergence of eukaryotic complexity through symbiosis. His work spans the origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts, deep phylogeny of microbial lineages, and experimental evolution of photosymbiotic systems. He employs integrative approaches combining computational phylogenetics, experimental microbiology, and cell biological techniques using diverse model organisms like ciliates, flagellates, algae, and purple bacteria to unravel how symbiotic relationships generate novel cellular structures.

Publications: His publication record demonstrates consistent contributions to understanding mitochondrial evolution and symbiosis, with recurring themes in endosymbiotic theory, bioenergetic constraints in eukaryotic evolution, and genomic analysis of symbiotic systems. His work appears in top-tier journals including Nature Microbiology and Nature Ecology & Evolution, reflecting significant impact in evolutionary biology and cell science.

Awards:

Advising and Grants: As principal investigator of the ECSO Lab (www.ecsolab.com), Dr. Munoz-Gomez mentors graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in experimental evolution and computational biology projects. His research program is supported by competitive grants focused on symbiosis mechanisms and eukaryotic evolution, though specific funding sources aren't detailed in the provided text.

Lab and Team: The ECSO Lab operates as an interdisciplinary research hub investigating evolutionary cell physiology through experimental symbiosis models. The team maintains specialized culture collections of microbial symbionts and employs advanced imaging and genomic techniques to study real-time evolutionary processes in controlled laboratory environments.