Lee J. Kerkhof
Papers
1
Total Citations
123
H-Index
1
About
Lee J. Kerkhof is a leading environmental microbiologist whose work has fundamentally advanced our understanding of microbial community structure and function. His research centers on developing and applying innovative molecular tools to profile complex bacterial populations, with a particular focus on ribosomal RNA operons and their utility as phylogenetic markers. Kerkhof’s most notable contribution is the pioneering development of a rapid, long-read sequencing approach using the Oxford Nanopore MinION platform to profile bacterial communities. His landmark 2017 paper, which has garnered 123 citations, demonstrated how sequencing the entire ribosomal operon—rather than just the 16S rRNA gene—provides superior taxonomic resolution for complex natural samples. This work has had significant impact by enabling researchers to obtain more accurate and comprehensive portraits of microbial diversity in environmental samples, from soils to marine sediments. Beyond this key achievement, Kerkhof has made substantial contributions to understanding microbial ecology, bioremediation, and the application of cutting-edge sequencing technologies to environmental microbiology, establishing himself as a respected innovator in the field.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Profiling bacterial communities by MinION sequencing of ribosomal operons123 citations · 2017