Erica Sonnenburg
Erica Sonnenburg is a senior research scientist in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Stanford University School of Medicine. She earned her PhD in medical microbiology and immunology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Sonnenburg Lab is currently focused on understanding basic principles that govern interactions within the intestinal microbiota and between the microbiota and the host. To pursue these aims, the lab applies systems approaches (e.g. functional genomics and metabolomics) to gain mechanistic insight into emergent properties of the host-microbial super-organism.
Sonnenburg's groundbreaking findings have been published in prestigious journals such as Cell, Science, and Nature. Along with her husband and collaborator, Justin, she co-authored the book The Good Gut: Taking Control of Your Weight, Your Mood, and Your Long-Term Health (Penguin Books, 2016), which explores the relationship between gut health and overall well-being. Sonnenburg's work has significantly advanced our understanding of the complex interactions between diet, the microbiome, and human health.
