Melissa Ellermann, a microbiologist in the Department of Biological Sciences, has been named a 2026 McCausland Faculty Fellow, one of the college’s premier honors for early-career faculty who excel in both research and teaching. The three-year fellowship provides a salary supplement and research funding to support innovative scholarship and student mentorship.

Ellermann’s research focuses on the gut microbiome and how microorganisms in the intestinal tract interact with the host immune system. She studies how disruptions in these interactions can lead to chronic inflammation, as well as how dietary patterns and hormonal signaling influence microbial overgrowth and inflammatory responses. A key area of her work is colonization resistance — the process by which the gut microbiome prevents the growth of pathogens such as E. coli — and identifying factors that can weaken this natural defense.

Supported by the National Institutes of Health, Ellermann’s research has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals including Cell, Nature Communications, Gut Microbes and mBio. In addition to her research accomplishments, she teaches courses in microbiology and biomedical sciences and mentors students in independent laboratory research. Students frequently commend her for fostering independence, confidence and scientific leadership, helping prepare them as emerging professionals in science.

Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition, Dr. Ellermann! We appreciate all your hard work, dedication,  and resilience!