Javier A. Ceja-Navarro

I am a microbial ecologist interested in how microbes shape the biology of hosts and the functioning of ecosystems. His research focuses on microbial trophic interactions, host-associated microbiomes, and the roles of bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists, and viruses in nutrient cycling, carbon flow, and environmental resilience. I work across systems ranging from insect digestive tracts to plant rhizospheres and long-term soil chronosequences, combining experimental microbiology, molecular approaches, multi-omics, and bioinformatics.

As a scientist, I am especially interested in questions that connect microbial mechanisms to broader ecological processes. My work asks how microbes help insects tolerate toxic diets, how microbial predators influence community function, how soil microbial communities respond to environmental change, and how complex microbial networks contribute to ecosystem stability.

As a mentor, I value curiosity, independence, collaboration, and scientific rigor. He is committed to creating a lab environment where students and researchers can develop strong technical skills, ask creative questions, and grow as confident scientists. I enjoy working at the intersection of field ecology, laboratory experimentation, computational biology, and mentorship, and I am particularly motivated by research that makes invisible microbial interactions understandable and meaningful.

Dishant Patel (Postdoctoral Researcher)

Hello, world of exploration! I am a passionate researcher embarking on a journey of discovery at the Navarro lab. I am driven by an insatiable curiosity to resolve the mysteries of microorganisms. My research work revolves around environmental microbiology, microbial genomics and metagenomics. I obtained a Ph.D. degree in Biotechnology at Charotar University of Science and Technology (CHARUSAT), Gujarat, India. During my PhD research, I uncovered the complexity of microbial communities to devise a self-sustainable bio-electrochemical systems for textile dye wastewater treatment. In the Navarro lab, I am exploring the trophic interactions between bacterial communities and protists and the impact of these associations on the soil carbon formation. In my free time I enjoy bird watching and night sky photography.

Lynn Bonomo (Graduate Student)

Hello! I am a recently land-locked marine biologist who is exploring the world of microbiology in the Navarro lab. I enjoy researching non-model animals and how they have evolved different traits or capabilities over time or through their microbial communities. My research uses metagenomics, microbiology, and evolution/ecology. I have a M.S. degree in Marine Biology from San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, USA in collaboration with the California Academy of Sciences. During my Master’s research, I studied the phylogenetics of a genus of nudibranchs (sea slugs) and worked on describing new species. My PhD research in the Navarro lab is on manipulating the gut microbiome of the coffee berry borer. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, reading, and have just started crocheting.

Garret Genco (Graduate Student)

As an undergraduate researcher I had a profound interest in natural history and observing the health and interactions in marine systems due to my ancestral roots in the Caribbean. Through various REU opportunities across the US I gained interest in studying microbial networks and developing biogenic solutions to various climate and anthropogenic challenges. As a PhD student in the Navarro laboratory, I will be exploring the underworld (soil) of microbiology, manipulating trophic interactions between plants and soil microbes (especially protists!), elucidating the chemical mechanisms that control soil microbiome recruitment and considering potential applications in agroecosystems, such as carbon and nitrogen cycling, with particular emphasis on climate questions. Outside of the lab, I really enjoy spending my time cooking, learning languages (Spanish and Mandarin currently), gardening, hiking/camping, and most recently gaming.

Former members

Ivory Bacy (Graduate Student)

After taking my first college-level biology course, I fell in love with the idea of learning about microorganisms and how they function in our natural environment. During my undergraduate, I was a fellow in the NSF-funded RISE program at NAU. My undergrad research focused on how reclaimed water influenced soil properties and fungi abundance in plant roots. As an aspiring Master’s student, I’m currently a fellow in the MITSI program at NAU and studying how complex soil microbe interactions influence nutrient sequestration. I have a strong interest in continuing research in soil and plant sciences to yield a more sustainable future for generations to come. When I’m not in the lab, I enjoy reading books and crocheting next to my cat, Juniper.

Mia Hamm (Undergraduate Researcher)

Hello! I am a passionate undergraduate researcher discovering the complex soil interactions with protists and predatory bacteria at the Navarro Lab. Currently, I am improving the extraction of nucleic acids from mixed conifer soils with high humic content and fecal samples. I am wildly interested in microbial communities, bioinformatics, and molecular astrobiology. Outside of the lab, I love to dance and read.

Matthew Heidenblut-Palomino (Undergraduate Researcher)

I am currently studying Microbiology and Environmental Science at NAU. In the Navarro lab, I specifically study the influence of soil protists on the nitrogen cycle and microbial diversity. I really enjoy the hands-on learning experience I get from working in the lab and reinforcing the fundamental concepts of biology and chemistry. In the near future, I plan on obtaining a PhD in microbiology and starting my career in research.

Adam Vannett (Undergraduate Researcher)

Hello, my fellow microbial enthusiasts, my name is Adam Vannett!  I am completely enamored with bacteriophage, one of the microbial world’s finest bacterial hunters. Bacteriophages have the potential to be an indispensable ally in the war on antibiotic resistance. By better understanding microbial communities, humanity can better utilize microbes to enhance day-to-day life. My research in Dr. Navarro’s lab mainly involves the study of the Coffee Berry Borer. The research aims to determine if bacteriophages can be used to inhibit the beetle’s ability to digest caffeine as well as if the beetle’s gut microbiome can be restored through probiotic therapy. 

Jack Fitzpatrick (Undergraduate Researcher)

My name is Jack Fitzpatrick and I am currently completing my undergraduate degree for Biomedical Science at Northern Arizona University. I am currently interested in the idea of microbes and their interactions with their environment and others. I am currently a senior and enjoy learning of the many things that can only be seen using a microscope. When I am not learning I enjoy hiking and visiting new places with friends.

Will Wagner (Undergraduate Researcher)

Hello, my name is Will Wagner, and I am a junior studying microbiology and minoring in computer science. For future research, I want to study how we can introduce bacteria, fungi and protists into harsh environments mostly devoid of life supporting resources, for example the charred areas of land that are left after a wildfire or a fresh volcanic eruption. I want to study which microbial species can most effectively create a suitable environment for other organisms to live and flourish. Given the larger forest fires that are becoming more prevalent, studying how forests recover on the microscopic level could help shape forest management practices on how to reestablish life in the wake of a fire.