Michelle Gibbs, PhD
Rouse Life Sciences Building 307
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Short Bio
My research focuses on ribosome biogenesis and translational regulation, with an emphasis on how microbes respond to environmental stressors such as nutrient limitation and metal availability. I received my Ph.D. in Microbiology from The Ohio State University and completed postdoctoral training at the National Institutes of Health and the University of California, Los Angeles. I have also taught courses in microbiology, biochemistry, and biology at Wittenberg University and California State University, Los Angeles. At Auburn, I teach BIOL 4101: Cell Biology Laboratory. I started my position at Auburn in January 2024.
Education
PhD Ohio State University 2020
BS Miami University 2014
Professional Experience
I completed my PhD at Ohio State University, where I characterized roles of conserved GTPases in bacterial ribosome assembly. I completed two post doctoral fellowships at the National Institutes of Health, and the University of California, Los Angeles. My postdoctoral research expanded into translational regulation, RNA metabolism, and cellular response to nutrient stress in yeast. My expertise is in molecular, genetic, and biochemical approaches to studying protein synthesis and gene expression. While at UCLA, I also gained experience in evidence-based teaching and pedagogy, including training in scientific teaching, mentoring, and course design.
Innovation
The Gibbs Lab investigates how environmental stress impacts ribosome biogenesis and translation to drive microbial adaptation. We combine molecular microbiology, RNA biology, and cell biology approaches to understand how gene expression is regulated in response to environmental stresses such as nutrient limitation and metal availability. Our current work explores how excess metals like Zn²⁺ disrupt ribosome assembly and bacterial growth; how ribosome-associated factors regulate translation during starvation; how putative ribosome assembly factors function; and how environmental stress can stimulate antimicrobial production in soil microbes. We study a diverse range of microbes, from model organisms such as E. coli and budding yeast to understudied soil bacteria. A central component of the lab is the integration of research with teaching. Our research is embedded in a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) in BIOL 4101, where students engage in authentic research focused on gene regulation and stress responses in yeast. In parallel, we are conducting an education research project to assess the impact of this CURE on student learning and scientific development.
Engagement
I serve as faculty advisor for the Auburn Microbiology Club, which helps connect students with research and career opportunities, organizes professional development and outreach activities, and supports student camaraderie. I regularly participate in STEM outreach initiatives, including Science Olympiad, Alabama Science and Engineering Fair, Destination STEM, and Spring Into Science, which engage K–12 students in hands-on scientific learning. I am also committed to undergraduate research training. I mentor students in independent research projects and several of my students have been recipients of fellowships, awards, and conference presentations. I also serve in undergraduate research organizations and professional societies, including abstract review and mentorship initiatives.
