Skip to main content

Nathan Crook

Asst Professor

Engineering Building I (EB1) 2026

562-714-0448

Bio

The Crook Lab develops new high-throughput experimental and computational genetic engineering techniques. In doing so, we hope to uncover novel biological phenomena and accelerate applied research and development in the broad areas of metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, and microbial ecology.

Our current application focus is the human gut microbiota. The ability of the gut microbiota to influence health has recently been uncovered, enabled by high-throughput DNA sequencing and animal models in which community composition is precisely controlled. The ultimate goal of this focus is the development of foundational technologies by which engineered gut commensal ecosystems can be designed and assembled as a matter of practice, enabling the conversion of food into a healthy mixture of energy, nutrients, and therapeutics.

Video not working? Use this link: Research Video

Publications

View on Google Scholar

Education

Ph.D, Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin (2014)
B.S., Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology (2009)

Honors and Awards

  • 2015 - Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA T32
  • 2010 - National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
  • 2009 - Cockrell School of Engineering Thrust Fellowship