Dr. Mittler’s laboratory focuses on the population biology microorganisms. Owing to their rapid generation times, large population sizes, and ease of culture, microbes are ideally suited for testing ecological and evolutionary theories. The laboratory takes particular interest in projects that use mathematical/computational models. Examples of questions addressed in our laboratory include: (1) How rapidly do bacteria and viruses replicate within a host? (2) What are the ecological forces that prevent cheaters from exploiting bacteria that release “public goods”, such as antibiotics and proteases, into the growth medium? (3) How can combination antiretroviral therapy regimens be optimized to reduce the probability that viruses will evolve drug resistance? (4) How does the structure of the social network and the roll out of drug therapies influence the evolution of HIV-1 virulence?