William W Metcalf

William W. Metcalf is the G. William Arends Professor of Microbiology at the University of Illinois, affiliated with the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology. He holds a B.S. in Anthropology and Microbiology from the University of Illinois (1981, 1984), a Ph.D. in Microbiology from Purdue University (1991), and completed postdoctoral training at Purdue (1991–1993) and the University of Illinois (1993–1997). His research focuses on microbial metabolism, particularly phosphorus cycling and methanogenesis, with dual emphases on antibiotic discovery and environmental impacts of methane production.

• Education:
• B.S. Anthropology, University of Illinois, 1981
• B.S. Microbiology, University of Illinois, 1984
• Ph.D. Microbiology, Purdue University, 1991

Research Interests: Metabolic pathways of reduced phosphorus compounds, biosynthesis of phosphonate antibiotics (e.g., fosfomycin, fosmidomycin), and genetic analysis of methanogenic Archaea (e.g., Methanosarcina species). His work bridges biomedical applications (e.g., drug discovery) with environmental concerns (e.g., methane’s role in climate change).

Articles Trends: Recent publications highlight advancements in archaeal taxonomy (e.g., human gut archaea), enzymology (SAM-dependent methyltransferases), and genetic tools for studying methanogenesis. His work on phosphonate biosynthesis underscores the potential of these compounds in agriculture and medicine.

• Awards:
• AAAS Fellow (2016)
• American Academy of Microbiology Fellow (2010)

Advisees & Grants: While specific student names are not listed, his research group collaborates extensively. Funding likely supports studies on microbial metabolism and genetic engineering of methanogens. Notable collaborations include work on methane hydrates and antibiotic biosynthetic pathways.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Metcalf Lab at the Carl R. Woese Institute, focusing on microbial genetics, biochemistry, and environmental microbiology. Collaborates internationally on projects like the Global Methane Initiative.