Brian Hammer
Associate Professor
Cherry Emerson 223
Cherry Emerson 220, 222, 224, 226, 210
bhammer@gatech.edu
404-385-7701
Educational Experience:
Ph.D., Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, 2001, M.S., Conservation Biology, University of Michigan, 1995, B.S., Biology, Boston College, 1990
Research Interests:
bacterial genetics/genomics, signal transduction, biofilms, horizontal gene transfer, quorum sensing, Type VI secretion, Vibrio cholerae
Overview:
My research lab strives to discover molecular mechanisms of bacteria and to communicate and apply this new knowledge to improve human and environmental health. We do so by dissecting the intricate genetic pathways of bacteria, employing complementary genomic, biochemical, ecological, and evolutionary approaches.
I teach introductory and upper-level courses for undergraduate and graduate students, including: Molecular Microbiology, Microbiology Lab, Cell & Molecular Biology, The Biology of Sex & Death, and Communicating Biological Research.
Recent publications include:
- Hull RW, Hammer BK & Leavey JK. 2025. Improving Understanding of the Role of Biology in Advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2025. Am Biol Teach. 87(4-5):254-262. link.
- Zhang C, Datta S, Ratcliff, WC & Hammer BK. 2024. Constitutive expression of the Type VI secretion system carries no measurable fitness cost in Vibrio cholerae. Ecol Evol. 14:e11081. link.
- Pokhrel AR, Steinbach G, Krueger A, Day TC, Tijani J, Bravo P, Ng SL, Hammer BK & Yunker PJ. 2024. The biophysical basis of bacterial colony growth. Nat Phys 10.1038. link.
- Copeland R, Zhang C, Hammer BK & Yunker PJ. 2024. Spatial constraints subvert microbial arms race. PLoS Comput Biol 20(1): e1011807. link.
- MacGillivray KA, Ng SL Wiesenfeld S, Guest RL, Jubery T, Silhavy TJ, Ratcliff WC & Hammer BK. 2023. Trade-offs constrain adaptive pathways to Type VI secretion survival iScience 26, 108332. link.
Publications:
