Adi Millman

Adi Millman’s research is focused on the interactions between bacteria and the viruses that infect them called bacteriophages (phages). Specifically, Adi seeks to illuminate how phages shape the gut microbiome and expose their contribution to bacterial adaptation to different conditions in the gut. In her doctoral research, Adi identified novel bacterial anti-phage defense systems and discovered a role for bacterial retrons, a breakthrough in microbiology. As an MIT-Novo Nordisk Artificial Intelligence Postdoctoral Fellow, her goal is to elucidate how phages influence the bacterial composition of the gut by using large longitudinal microbiome data. This work will employ a variety of tools, including AI and differential network analysis, to understand how phages influence the microbiome’s trajectory and to develop predictive models. Her research holds the potential to unearth pivotal insights into the ecological and evolutionary forces at play within the gut microbiome while aiding in the differentiation of microbiome dynamics in health and disease. As of September 2024, Adi departed the program but will remain at MIT through an external three-year fellowship.