Department of Biology
ESC 350
200 University Ave. W
Waterloo, Ontario,
Canada N2L 3G1
Phone: (519) 888-4567 ext. 32569
Fax: (519) 746-0614
Trevor Charles carries out research in bacterial genetics and is an expert on analyzing genetic material recovered directly from environmental samples, also known as functional metagenomics.
Contact information
Office: B1 377C
Phone: 519-888-4567, ext. 35606
Email: tcharles@uwaterloo.ca
Expertise
- Plant-microbe interactions
- Symbiotic nitrogen fixation
- Functional metagenomics
- Bacterial genome engineering
- Synthetic biology, bioplastics and bioproducts
Research
Professor Charles is a microbiologist with expertise in bacterial molecular genetics. His research group studies the mechanisms of gene regulatory circuits that control the interactions of Rhizobiales bacteria such as Sinorhizobium meliloti with their eukaryal hosts.
The group also develops methods for functional metagenomics using alternate surrogate hosts, and employs these methods to isolate novel genes with interesting functions from microbial community genomic libraries.
Current research emphasis is on functional metagenomics, bioplastics and bacterial genome engineering.
Teaching
Professor Charles teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses. Course offerings have included
- BIOL 240 - Fundamentals of Microbiology
- BIOL 349 - Synthetic Biology Design Project
- BIOL 431 - Bacterial Molecular Genetics
- BIOL 475 - Topics in Applied Microbiology
- BIOL 608 - Advanced Molecular Genetics
Highlighted Publications
Please see Dr. Trevor Charles' links on Google Scholar for a current list of his peer-reviewed articles.
Awards and Distinctions
- 2015 Fellowship of Association of Biotechnology and Pharmacy (India)
- 2015 International Award of the Ninth DBN Science and Technology Awards (China)
- 2012 Outstanding Performance Award
- 2000-2010 President, Canadian Society of Microbiologists
- 1991 NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship
University of Waterloo Affiliations
- The Water Institute, member
-
Waterloo Institute for Complexity and Innovation (WICI), core member
- Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE), member
- Waterloo Centre for Microbial Research (Director)
- Waterloo Climate Institute, member
Professional Associations and Service
- Entrepreneurship
- LiftOff, Executive Director
- Journal Editorship
- Specialty Chief Editor, Frontiers in Microbiology, Microbe and Virus Interactions with Plants
-
Senior Editor, Molecular Plant Microbe Interactions
- Professional Associations
- American Society for Microbiology
- Canadian Society of Microbiologists
- International Society for Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions
- International Society for Microbial Ecology
Media
The following news stories have featured Professor Charles's research:
Degrees
1991 PhD Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario
1985 BSc Microbiology, University of British Columbia