American microbiologist
Michael J. Sadowsky is an American microbiologist at the University of Minnesota. He is the director of the BioTechnology Institute[1] and a Professor in the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate.[2] Sadowsky's scientific career spans over 40 years, most of it focused on research studying the nature of bacteria and bacterial genes in ecological settings, with a particular emphasis on soil bacteria that are involved in nitrogen fixation.[2]
Early life and education
Sadowsky was born to Nathan and Judith Sadowsky.[3] He attended the University of Wisconsin- Madison for his undergraduate studies, earning a Bachelor's degree in Bacteriology and later attending the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh for his Master's degree in Microbiology.[4] For his Ph.D, Sadowsky attended the University of Hawaii, completing his PhD dissertation titled, "Physiological, serological, and plasmid characterization of fast-growing rhizobia that nodulate soybeans"[5] in the laboratory of B. Ben Bohlool.[6] Sadowsky performed his postdoctoral research at McGill University,[7] where he met his wife Suzanne.[3]
Scientific career
Sadowsky developed an analysis technique to distinguish between animal and human E. coli in waterways,[8][9] work that was ultimately featured in Time (magazine).[10] He also studied the mechanisms underlying the resolution of recurrent C. difficile infection treated with fecal microbiota transplant;[11][12] the development of standardized protocols for preparing frozen samples for fecal microbiota transplant;[13] and a novel symbiosis mechanism between soil bacteria and legumes.[14] He also holds 10 patents for technology related to his research,[4] and was the editor of the textbook The Fecal Bacteria.[15] As of June 2020 he has authored or co-authored over 600 scientific publications, which have been cited over 25,000 times and with a h-index of 80.[16]
