Mike is leaving us to join Maureen Coleman’s lab at the University of Chicago beginning in 2020. We’re thrilled that he has cultivated (pun intended) such an excellent opportunity and look forward to seeing the great work that comes from his time in the Coleman Lab. Mike leaves behind an impressive legacy: over 400 axenic cultures from a diverse set of coastal bacterioplankton groups, including LD12 and other SAR11 subclades; a well-trained cadre of students who can all thank him for helping them achieve their level of proficiency; numerous upgraded techniques and protocols; and of course several excellent manuscripts. Mike had three first-author publications before he graduated, one this year, and will likely have two more from his dissertation research (stay tuned for more as good stuff is on the way, and see the Publications page for details). The isolates he generated are also the basis for several upcoming papers from other students in the lab like Celeste and Jordan. We are all in your debt Mike, and no one more than me. Your hard work and dedication during your time in the lab was massively instrumental to our success thus far, and the results of your efforts here will carry forward for many years. Thank you from all of us, and best of luck in your new position.
