Avery Agles 

Postdoc

Ph.D., 2024, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University

B.S., 2018, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Inst. of Technology

Microorganisms lubricate the physicochemical interfaces between the biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems, making our seemingly disjointed and complex world an integrated whole. These interfaces are where my research interests lie. As a PhD student, I focused on using molecular simulations to uncover the nanoscale structure and dynamics of the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) that makes up microbial biofilms. I became fascinated by how microorganisms use EPS to alter the structure and hydrological properties of the surround soil or sediment. I am continuing this thread of inquiry as a postdoc with the Judy’s Yang group where I will be A) leading mesocosm and field trials of clay-induced flocculation of Harmful Algal Blooms and B) conducting microfluidic experiments to visualize how clay-rich soils and sediments protect organic carbon from microorganisms. 

Outside of the lab, I spend most of my alone time reading poetry and literature. If I have the time, I write some myself. I have always loved the genre of Sci-Fi, especially books like Dune and The Foundation Trilogy that optimistically push the bounds of what humanity can accomplish and become. In the past few years, I have been reading a lot of 19th-century Russian literature with its strong religious themes that seek to inspire union between humanity and nature. I am constantly trying to integrate what I find inspiring in literature with what I find inspiring in my scientific research.