The human gut microbiome is understood to have far-reaching health effects, particularly along the gut-brain axis (GBA). Studies have shown an unhealthy gut microbiome correlates with onset of several neurological disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety, Alzheimer’s), with the reverse relationship also holding true. When designing therapeutics for these neurological disorders, there is promising potential in targeting the gut microbiome, as it can be engineered non-invasively via the delivery and colonization of specialized probiotic bacteria. These probiotic bacteria can be selected or engineered to metabolize and release molecules that signal gut epithelial cells to perform any number of functions.

Eric’s research uses a GBA high-throughput flow chip to rapidly screen bacteria that have can potentially send signals to the brain via gut-brain connections, with a specific focus on serotonergic species. His focus is identifying the specific bacterial mechanisms that can promote brain health from the gut, then engineering and testing probiotics that perform these functions as efficiently as possible in pursuit of a long-term brain therapeutic that lives within the gut.

Eric joined ABNEL in the spring of 2025 as a Bioengineering PhD student. He earned his B.S. in Environmental Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 2024. During his undergrad, he worked as a TA for fluid mechanics lab courses and as a student researcher in Rosalyn Abbott lab researching obesogens, chemicals suspected to disrupt adipose tissue development and contribute to obesity.

B.S. Environmental Health Engineering
Carnegie Mellon University ’24
Pittsburgh, PA