Your gastrointestinal tract is home to hundreds of bacterial species that play essential roles in digestion and metabolism. As this field of research expands it is becoming increasingly clear that these microbes influence systems beyond the gut: they can even impact brain functioning. These effects were once thought to occur indirectly over the span of minutes to hours through complex chemical signaling pathways. Over the past 15 years, however, scientists have discovered that gut bacteria can communicate directly with the brain via the nervous system, transmitting signals in a matter of seconds and reshaping how we understand the gut–brain axis.

This week, we were joined by Kevin Rice, a fourth-year PhD candidate in the Department of Microbiology, co-advised by Dr. Maude David and Dr. Kenton Hokanson. Kevin’s research focuses on how human gut cells interact with neurons and the role that the microbiome may play in influencing neurodevelopmental disorders. Through his work across both Microbiology and Biochemistry & Biophysics, he combines computational approaches with neuroscience techniques to better understand the big impact our microbial communities can have on human health.

Check out the recording of this episode on our podcast page to hear Kevin talk about how pursuing scientific questions has shaped his perspective on what constitutes a worthwhile career and the implications of his work in understanding neurodevelopmental disorders.