Scholar Spotlight: Zachary Burcham
“I study tiny organisms—like bacteria living in mammals, insects, and soil that eat dead things and waste products—to understand how they can help us break down our wastes or clean up pollution.”
Zachary Burcham
Assistant Professor
Department of Microbiology
My research focuses on microbial community dynamics using computational and lab-based approaches to understand how microbes interact with each other and their hosts during the decomposition of organic matter
As we work toward a more sustainable bioeconomy, by studying microbial interactions, we can uncover the biological drivers of sustainable agriculture, support circular bioeconomy strategies, and improve our understanding of nutritional ecology, with the goal of connecting fundamental microbiome science to real-world solutions.
Why I Do What I Do
I was an undergraduate when I first learned that microbes are ubiquitous and influence everything from our emotions to gut digestion and even our eventual decomposition. This realization sparked a curiosity to understand how communities of diverse microbes work together, rather than focusing on a single species. That curiosity has since grown into research exploring how these microbial communities can be applied in areas like sustainability and forensic science.
Currently Working On
A study on how different diets shape the microbial communities of a generalist decomposer insect, with a focus on how microbes assemble into interaction networks to break down organic matter.
By uncovering these interactions, our work aims to enhance insect-based biorecycling systems and support sustainable strategies for waste management, nutrient recovery, and ecological bioremediation.
By Amy Beth Miller