Meet  Team Microbigals!

Founder, Podcast Co-host & Science Writer

Elizabeth (Tess) Deyett, PhD

Tess Deyett, Ph.D. is a Senior Bioinformatics Scientist at a Biotech company in Boston that aims to use microbes to destroy pollution.

She aspires to share how microbes are a constant force of good to every person and that everyone has many unique microbe moments! 

Co-Founder & Podcast Producer

Jonathan Mitchell

Jonathan is a microbiome researcher at a pharmaceutical company. He received his master's in Microbiology from the University of California Riverside. In his free time, he enjoys home brewing mead.

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Science Writer, Podcast Co-host 

Julie Grubaugh

Julie is a Senior Application Analyst in the medical field, an EMT, outdoors lover and a mycophile. She has a biology degree from the University of New Hampshire, a black belt in karate, and she's climbed all 48 4ks in the White Mountains of NH. She loves microbial foods and has swapped out coffee for her homemade Ginger Tumeric Chaga Tea recipe! 

Science Artist

Meng-Yuan (Celia) Xi

Celia is pursuing a Ph.D. from the University of California Riverside in Botany. She researches the plant-microbe interactions of citrus. She's also an aspiring science illustrator and artist. She brings our microbial teachers to life, since they are too small for us to see.

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Environmental Science & Sustainability

Dr. Myco Rhiza

Dr. Myco Rhiza grew up under The Mother Tree in the Great Forest where she and her sisters help The Great Mother Tree bring life and warmth into the Earth. When she's not teaching, Dr. Myco Rhiza enjoys knitting mycelia and hyphae and gardening (especially mushrooms and other fungal friends).  Although she teaches several classes at the Society Of Symbionts, her favorites are "Networking 101" and  "Decomposition & Sustainability."

Survival Specialist

Coach Timmy Tardigrade

In addition to coaching the swimming team, this moss piglet enjoys the outdoors, often taking his students on extreme field trips to hydrothermal vents, deep-sea excursions, and even occasional space travel! His carefree and stress-free attitude towards life is the envy of the school and often is the reason why his students come back alive from their adventures. His major classes include "Survival 101", "Defensive Metabolites", and "Astrobiology."

Microbial Gastronomy

Chef Fermé Brewer

While sometimes a little tipsy on microbial beer and wine concoctions, Chef Fermé Brewer's exquisite meals are always the hit of the party. Growing up in Egypt and having traveled all over the world, Chef Fermé Brewer's fine palette and ability to ferment can not be rivaled. He's an avid homebrewer, bread maker and self-proclaimed health nut. It is hard to imagine life without him! His top courses include: "Nutrition 101", "Working in a Gut Microbiome", and "Microbial Gastronomy."

Head Mistress Of The Society Of Symbionts

Ms. Ecoli

Our fearless and kind headmistress, Ms. Ecoli, makes sure the Society of Symbionts school is in tip-top shape. While sometimes stern, she is extremely passionate and ensures every student finds their microbe moment and is prepared to be a thriving microbe in their field. Beware, she can spot mischief from anywhere on campus! When not wrapped up in admin work and meetings, she teaches introductory courses "Microbiology A-Z", "Material Engineering", and "Reproduction & Replication."

Criminology And Pathogenesis

Becky LeFarge

Meet Becky LaFarge; sentenced to a life of teaching medical microbiology at the Society of Symbionts for crimes against Giants and microbes alike. Becky is a convicted microbial serial killer with a sick twisted sense of humor that keeps her classes scary but entertaining. Her courses have a proclivity for the macabre with classes such as "The Art Of Manipulating Your Host", "Criminology & Pathogenesis", and "History of Modern Medicine." As a recovering bacteriophage, she occasionally has urges to eat her students, but with the watchful eyes of our probation officer students are generally regarded as safe (GRAS).

History of Giants (Humans) and Microbes

Professor Xi Psychrobacter

Professor Xi Psychrobacter was a long-time symbiont of the bike riding, weight lifting, baton twirling Giant Panda, Basi. We cannot confirm his claims, but Professor Xi says he was able to help Basi live longer than usual, 37 year, the second longest living panda ever recorded! Once his host died, he came to The Society of Symbionts and loves teaching the next generation of beneficial microbes how to create a lasting symbiotic relationship with your chosen host. Professor Xi specializes in "Human History" and "Starting a Symbiosis."

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