Rodney Tollerson
rwt0021@auburn.edu
Rouse Life Sciences 328
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Short Bio
My research focuses on the translational regulation of gene expression and the mechanisms that control how mRNAs are translated into proteins. I am particularly interested in how cells dynamically regulate transcription and translation in response to developmental, environmental, and stress-related cues, and how these processes contribute to cellular function and environmental adaptation. To study these questions, I use high-throughput and genome-wide approaches such as ribosome profiling, along with complementary molecular and computational methods, to measure translational activity at high resolution.
I received my PhD from The Ohio State University in Microbiology with Dr. Michael Ibba and did an NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship at Caltech in Geological and Planetary Sciences with Dr. Victoria Orphan. I started at Auburn in 2024.
Education
BS University of Arizona 2015
PhD The Ohio State University 2019
Professional Experience
Postdoctoral Fellow, Caltech, 2020 - 2023
Assistant Professor, Auburn University, 2024 - Present
Innovation
My research focuses on the translational regulation of gene expression across diverse microbial systems, with an emphasis on how protein synthesis is coordinated with cellular physiology and environmental responses. In Methanosarcina acetivorans, we investigate how translation regulates methanogenesis and supports genetic code expansion, aiming to understand how these processes contribute to metabolic flexibility and the incorporation of noncanonical amino acids. We also study Methanobrevibacter ruminantium to uncover translational control mechanisms that regulate methane production in ruminant-associated archaea, with the goal of informing strategies to mitigate methane emissions. In parallel, we are exploring molybdenum sequestration using environmental microbes and synthetic communities, examining how translational regulation influences metal utilization and ecosystem function. Generally, our projects integrate ribosome profiling with molecular approaches to elucidate how translational control shapes cellular outcomes across biological contexts.
