My primary research interests involve the interactions between microorganisms and their environment, in understanding how microorganisms survive, respond, and thrive under different and changing environmental conditions. Of particular interest is the thermophile Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus (Mt). Mt is an anaerobic obligatory autotrophic methanogen and a member of the archaeal domain. It’s environmentally important and sole metabolism along with transcription mechanisms based on both eukaryotic and bacterial components make it an ideal organism in which to study transcription level regulation in response to ever changing environmental conditions.