At the Venturini Lab, we use molecular and bioinformatics methods to understand how anthropogenic pressures impact soil microbial communities and their ecosystem services. Our work is especially focused on tropical environments — particularly the Amazon — and on the consequences of land-use change.
Our research explores:
We believe that science thrives on collaboration. If you're interested in our work or looking for research opportunities, feel free to reach out: aventurini@american.edu
American University is launching an exciting new PhD program in Biomedical and Environmental Health Sciences: https://www.american.edu/cas/bio-chem-environment-phd
If you're interested in pursuing a Ph.D., Master's, or undergraduate research opportunity focused on environmental microbiology, microbial ecology, or soil health, I would d love to hear from you!
Contact me to learn more about current opportunities in the lab and how we can work together.
Elevating local perspectives: An imperative for equity in Ecology
Dutra et al. 2025
Linking soil microbial genomic features to forest-to-pasture conversion in the Amazon
Venturini et al. 2025
Evolutionary trajectories of shoots vs. roots: Plant volatile metabolomes are richer but less structurally diverse belowground in the tropical tree genus Protium
Holmes et al. 2025
Excited to share that I am now an Underground Explorer with SPUN!
Check my new project here: