Vanja Klepac-Ceraj

Vanja Klepac-Ceraj is an Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Wellesley College. Her research focuses on microbial ecology, the human microbiome, and the interplay between microbial communities and environmental factors. She teaches courses in Introductory Cell and Molecular Biology, Microbiology, and Environmental Microbiology, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches.

• Education: B.S. from Beloit College, Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Her lab investigates microbial ecosystems, particularly how environmental variables like diet and xenobiotics influence microbial interactions and community stability. Research spans infant gut microbiomes, arsenic metabolism in microbial systems, and microbial mats in aquatic environments. She collaborates with international researchers in South Africa and Malawi.

Recent publications highlight her work on human microbiome development, including studies on breastfeeding impacts, gut-brain axis connections, and microbial succession patterns. Her research integrates biology, chemistry, and neuroscience to address complex ecological dynamics.