Mathieu Groussin, PhD
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States of America
Co-Founder – Governance Team
I am a researcher using evolutionary, ecological and genomic approaches to understand what role microbes have been playing on human life and evolution. I am interested in using my background to solve issues in areas that I am the most passionate about: science, education, biodiversity conservation, public policy and social & human rights.


Mathilde Poyet, PhD
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States of America
Co-Founder – Governance Team
I am a microbiologist, passionate about human health and evolution. My research focuses on developing advanced methodologies to deeply investigate bacterial species associated with humans. I am driven by a desire to understand how microbiomes impact human health and leverage its therapeutic potential.
Katya Moniz, PhD
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States of America
Governance Team
I am a microbial ecologist with a background in the humanities. I am deeply committed to advancing the GMbC’s parallel missions of conservation, equity, and advancing health through science – in a way that is transparent, accountable, and always respectful of the communities with whom we partner.


Eric Alm, PhD
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States of America
Co-Founder
I am passionate about using scientific discoveries and new technologies to solve real-world problems and global health issues. Through the Global Microbiome Conservancy, I hope to help preserve this critical biodiversity for future generations by leveraging the unique technological and human resources of our extensive network of collaborators worldwide.
Ramnik Xavier, Ph.D, M.D
Broad Institute & Massachusetts General Hospital, United States of America
I am a Kurt Isselbacher Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Director of the Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Institute Member and Co-Director of the Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and Co-Director of the Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics at MIT.


Ainara Sistiaga, PhD
University of Copenhagen, Denmark
I am an archaeologist with a broad background in human evolution and the application of lipidomics to paleodietary studies. I combine the research fields of organic geochemistry, and evolutionary biology by studying the lipids produced by gut bacteria in modern and fossil samples.
Roger Summons, PhD
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States of America
I study molecular and isotopic biosignatures present in microbial cultures, sediments, sedimentary rocks and environmental samples. I am also interested in the phylogenomics of lipid biosynthesis. The overall aim of my work is to discern clues about the nature of early life on the Earth and the environmental transitions that permitted the advent and evolution of complex life.
