Rate My Professor Aaron Lynne

Aaron Lynne, Ph.D., serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences at Sam Houston State University. He obtained his B.S. in Microbiology in 2000 and Ph.D. in Molecular Pathogenesis in 2006, both from North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND. Following his doctoral studies, Lynne completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation in Marshfield, WI, until 2008. That same year, he joined Sam Houston State University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, progressing through the ranks to his current leadership role as Professor and Chair.

Lynne's research focuses on forensic microbiology, particularly the microbiome associated with human cadaver decomposition. His work aims to develop a microbial clock for determining the postmortem interval through next-generation sequencing, examining microbiome changes in various decomposition scenarios, identifying microbial sources and sinks, and analyzing abiotic and biotic factors influencing the process. He also investigates the distribution of enteric pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella, their virulence and antimicrobial resistance factors, sequencing of large plasmids, and functional characterization of specific genes. Notable publications include 'A Conserved Interdomain Microbial Network Underpins Cadaver Decomposition Despite Environmental Variables' in Nature Microbiology (2024), co-authored with numerous researchers; 'The Microbiome of Blow Fly Organs and Fly-Human Microbial Transfer During Decomposition' in Forensic Science International (2022); 'A Pilot Study of Microbial Succession in Human Rib Skeletal Remains during Terrestrial Decomposition' in mSphere (2021); and 'Microbiome Data Accurately Predicts the Postmortem Interval Using Random Forest Regression Models' (2018). In recognition of his scholarly contributions, including 41 peer-reviewed publications, two review articles, eight book chapters, and over $1.4 million in funded grants, Lynne received the 2019 Sam Houston State University Excellence in Scholarly and Creative Accomplishments award. His research has garnered over 4,400 citations and involves national collaborations, significantly advancing fields like forensic science, microbial ecology, and pathogen resistance.