New Faculty: Jacob Allen
Jacob Allen
Assistant Professor
Department of Kinesiology and Community Health
Dr. Allen joined AHS from the Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, where he was a postdoctoral scientist. He earned his PhD in exercise immunology and microbial ecology is the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His bachelor’s and master’s degrees in exercise physiology are from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Dr. Allen’s research focuses on environmental interventions and conditions, specifically exercise, psychological stress, and diet, that influence gut microbial communities and metabolite production during both homeostatic and pathological disease states. His goal is to provide a new perspective on how environmental conditions interact to modify the gut microbiota, and to leverage this knowledge to improve human health.
Dr. Allen believes the University of Illinois is an ideal institution for pursuing his research as integrative biological sciences are at the forefront of the University’s mission. “I’ve noticed an equal emphasis on basic studies and applied health,” he said. “For microbiome research, the next frontier is integrating these two components into a cohesive framework for understanding how gut microbiota interacts with humans, and I’m excited to begin work with the brilliant and diverse group of scientists at the U of I.”