Suzanne Ishaq

Dr. Suzanne Ishaq is an Associate Professor at the University of Maine in the School of Food and Agriculture and the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences. Her lab investigates host-microbe interactions, focusing on the role of gut microbiota in producing anti-inflammatory compounds from diet, microbial community acquisition in marine animals, and the intersection of microbiome research with social equity.

• Teaching: AVS 254 (Animal Microbiomes), AVS 401/402 (Capstone in Animal Science), AVS 454/554 (DNA Sequencing Data Analysis).
• Leadership: Founder of the Microbes and Social Equity Working Group, Early Career Board Member of the American Society for Microbiology (2024–2027), Editor of mSystems (2021–2027).
• Research: Broccoli sprouts in IBD models, microbial biogeography in gut systems, social equity in microbiome stewardship, marine and livestock microbiomes.

Key Collaborations: With Dr. Yanyan Li (SUNY Binghamton) and Dr. Tao Zhang on diet-microbe-health projects, supported by USDA, NIH, and the Allen Foundation. Her work spans in vitro, in vivo, and clinical models, emphasizing microbial community resilience and environmental contexts.