NDMU
Students Contribute Genomic Research Uncovering Unknown Microorganisms in National Soil Microbiome Study
NDMU Students Help Decode How the Nation’s Hidden Soil Bacteria Affect Human Health
Eleven undergraduate students and two faculty at Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) are playing a hands-on role in one of the largest soil microbiome studies ever attempted. Dr. Jennifer Kerr and Dr. Sayumi York lead a team of student researchers were co-authors of a December 2025 article on the BioDIGS research in Nature Genetics, a leading peer-reviewed journal for high-impact research on how genetics impact human disease, biological function, and evolution. The NDMU team worked on the project with a Johns Hopkins University scientist who is one of the world’s foremost experts in genomics research.