Whyte, Lyle
Professor;
Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Polar Microbiology
Canada Research Chair in Environmental Microbiology (2003-2013)
Canadian Society of Microbiologists (CSM) Fisher Award 鈥� Outstanding Contribution to Research by a New Researcher (2014)
Lyle Whyte completed his PhD at the University of Waterloo in 1992, following undergraduate studies at the University of Regina. From 1993 to 2002, he served as a Research Officer at the Biotechnology Research Institute, National Research Council of Canada in Montreal. In 2003, Prof. Whyte joined 91导航视频. In 2004, he was awarded the Canadian Society of Microbiologists (CSM) Fisher Award (Outstanding Contribution to Research by a New Researcher). He is a former Canada Research Chair (2003-2010) and lead the NSERC CREATE Canadian Astrobiology Training Program (2009-2015). He is presently a member of the European Space Agency ExoMars 2020 Landing Site Selection Working Group and of the new 91导航视频 Space Institute. He is an Associate Editor of the Canadian Journal of Microbiology, a Review Editor for Frontiers in Microbiology and an Editorial Board Member for the International J. Astrobiology.听His research program examines microbial biodiversity, activity, and ecology in polar ecosystems, especially permafrost and unique cold saline springs, in the emerging field of cryomicrobiology, the exploration of the low-temperature limits of microbial life.
Effects of Climate Change on Permafrost Microbial Communities
Stable Isotope Probing and 鈥渙mic鈥� Analyses of Permafrost Samples
Microbial Ecology and Biodiversity of High Arctic Cold Saline Springs
Characterization of Microorganisms Capable of Subzero Growth and Activity
- Genome / transcriptomic sequencing of cryophilic microorganisms
- Microbial bioprospecting of high Arctic strains and genetic resources for cold active enzymes and antimicrobials.
- Culturing the unculturable: Isolation, identification and characterization of novel polar microbes using cryo-ichip prototypes
Astrobiology-Related Research
- MICRO Life Detection Instrument Platform Developing and Testing (CSA)
- Microbial diversity / ecology / activity in a Mars analogue Antarctic RSL
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Professor Whyte's research projects focus on examining microbial biodiversity and ecology in the Canadian high Arctic where very unique habitats exist, using both classical microbiology and novel genomics-based molecular techniques for studying microbial communities. These habitats include unique cold saline springs, permafrost and ground ice, and ice shelf microbial matt communities. These investigations explore the biodiversity, ecology, adaptations, and activity of microbial communities at subzero temperatures in cryoenvironments (subzero habitats) in an emerging field perhaps best described as cryomicrobiology. This area is presently very poorly understood but crucial for determining if such communities are active in situ at subzero temperatures and determining the impact of such activity on global biogeochemical cycling. The utility of these unique cryoenvironments as extraterrestrial analogs for astrobiology studies is also being examined and biotechnological applications of these microorganisms will be investigated in the longer term.
Invited lecturer in: