Draft:Brett J. Baker

Brett J. Baker

Institution: University of Texas at Austin

Field: Microbial Ecology, Environmental Microbiology

Education and Career:

Dr. Brett J. Baker is a prominent microbial ecologist and environmental microbiologist at the University of Texas at Austin. He serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Marine Science and leads the Baker Lab at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute (UTMSI) in Port Aransas, Texas. His work focuses on studying microbial communities in extreme environments, such as hydrothermal vents, anoxic sediments, and the deep ocean.

Dr. Baker earned his Ph.D. in Geological Science from University of Michigan, where he explored the diversity and metabolic potential of microbial communities.

Research Focus:

Dr. Baker is renowned for his innovative use of metagenomics to characterize previously unknown microbial lineages and their ecological roles. His research focuses on understanding microbial processes in extreme environments and their impact on global biogeochemical cycles.

Significant areas of research include:

• Microbial Evolution: Studying the phylogenetics of newly discovered microbial taxa.
• Metagenomics and Genomics: Utilizing cutting-edge sequencing technologies to decode the genetic blueprints of microbial communities.
• Geobiology: Exploring interactions between microorganisms and their physical and chemical environments, particularly in oxygen-deficient zones.

Contributions to Science:

Dr. Baker has been instrumental in identifying novel microbial phyla, such as organisms in the Asgard archaea group, which are hypothesized to be closely related to the origin of eukaryotes. His discoveries have provided key insights into the evolution of cellular life and the adaptation of life in extreme conditions.

Awards and Recognition:

Dr. Baker has received accolades for his contributions to environmental microbiology, including Sloan Research Fellowship in Ocean Sciences – 2016, and Elected to the American Academy of Microbiology - 2024.

Selected Publications:

Leão P, Little ME, Appler KE, Sahaya D, Aguilar-Pine E, Currie K, Finkelstein I, Anda VD, Baker BJ. (2024) Extensive defense systems in Asgard archaea and their role in the origin of eukaryotic immunity. Nature Communications 15, 6386. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-50195-2

Eme L, Tamarit, D, Caceres EF, Stairs CW, Anda VD, Schon ME, Seitz KW, Dombrowski N, Lewis WH, Homa F, Saw JH, Lombard J, Nunoura T, Li W-J, Hua Z-S, Chen L-X, Banfield JF, St John E, Reysenbach A-L, Stott MB, Schramm A, Kjeldsen KU, Teske AP, Baker BJ, Ettema TJG. (2023) Inference and reconstruction of the heimdallarchaeial ancestry of eukaryotes. Nature. 618, 992-999.

Rambo I, Anda VD, Langwig M, Baker BJ. (2022) Genomes of six viruses that infect Asgard archaea from deep-sea sediments. Nature Microbiology 7, 953-961. 10.1038/s41564-022-01150-8

Langwig M, De Anda V, Dombrowski N, Seitz KW, Rambo I, Teske AP, Baker BJ. (2022) Large scale protein level comparison of Deltaproteobacteria reveals cohesive metabolic groups. ISME J. 16, 307-320. 10.1038/s41396-021-01057-y

Anda VD, Chen L-X, Dombrowski N, Hua Z-S, Jiang H-C, Banfield JF, Li W-J, Baker, BJ. (2021) Brockarchaeota, a new archaeal phylum with unique and versatile pathways for carbon cycling. Nature Communications 12, 2404. 10.1038/s41467-021-22736-6

Seitz KW, Dombrowski N, Eme L, Spang A, Lombard J, Seiber J, Teske AP, Ettema TJG, Baker BJ. (2019) Asgard archaea capable of anaerobic hydrocarbon cycling. Nature Communications 10, 1822. 10.1038/s41467-019-09364-x

Dombrowski N, Teske AP, Baker BJ. (2018) Expansive microbial metabolic versatility and biodiversity in dynamic Guaymas Basin hydrothermal sediments. Nature Communications 9, 4999. 10.1038/s41467-018-07418-0

Zaremba-Niedzwiedzka, K, Caceres EF, Saw JH, Bäckström D, Juzokaite L, Vancaester E, Seitz KW, Anantharaman, Stott MB, Nunoura T, Banfield JF, Schramm A, Baker BJ, Spang A, and Ettema TJG. (2017) Asgard archaea illuminates the origin of eukaryotic cellular complexity. Nature 541, 353-358. 10.1038/nature21031

Dombrowski N, Donaho J, Teske AP, Gutierrez T, Seitz KW, Baker BJ. (2016) Reconstructing metabolic pathways of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Nature Microbiology 1, 16057. 10.1038/nmicrobiol.2016.57

Hug L, Baker BJ, Anantharaman K, Brown CT, Probst AJ, Castelle C, Butterfield CN, Hernsdorf AW, Amano Y, Suzuki Y, Dudek N, Relman DA, Thomas BC, Banfield JF (2016) A new view of the tree of life. Nature Microbiology 1, 16048. 10.1038/nmicrobiol.2016.48

Baker BJ, Saw J, Lind A, Lazar CS, Hinrichs K-U, Teske AP, Ettema T (2016) Genomic inference of the metabolism of cosmopolitan subsurface archaea, Hadesarchaea. Nature Microbiology 1, 16002. 10.1038/nmicrobiol.2016.2

Baker BJ, Comolli LR, Dick GJ, Hauser L., Land M, Hyatt, D, VerBerkmoes N, Hettich B, Banfield JF. (2010) Enigmatic, ultra-small uncultivated Archaea. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 107, 8806-8811. 10.1073/pnas.0914470107

Teaching and Mentorship:

Dr. Baker is deeply committed to educating the next generation of scientists. At UT Austin, he teaches courses in microbial ecology and environmental microbiology and mentors graduate and undergraduate students conducting research in his lab.

External Links:

• Baker Lab Website
• UT Austin Faculty Profile