Patrick Keeling
Program
Integrated Microbial Biodiversity
Appointment
Fellow, Program Director
Institution
University of British Columbia
Country
Canada 
Dr. Patrick Keeling is a biologist and Director of CIFAR’s Integrated Microbial Biodiversity program. Dr. Keeling’s research group studies the genomics, evolution, and cell biology of protists and fungi, both microbial eukaryotes (cells that store their genetic material in a nucleus) of great complexity at the cellular and molecular levels.
Although protists and fungi compose the vast majority of eukaryotic diversity, relatively little is known about their history or biology. Dr. Keeling’s group uses molecular biology, microscopy and genome sequencing to change that. Their research creates new knowledge on several fronts. One focus is on cellular organelles such as mitochondria and plastids, from which we can learn about how the process of endosymbiosis, or the merging of two cells, can lead to a new life form with characteristics different from either of the partners. The Keeling lab also focuses on parasitism and how sophisticated intracellular parasites arise from free-living ancestors and how this process affects their cells, genomes, and metabolism.
Dr. Keeling is also a Professor in the Department of Botany at the University of British Columbia. Since he obtained his PhD in Biochemistry from Dalhousie University in 1996, Dr. Keeling has received many honours, including New Investigator awards from both the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR) and from CIHR (2001) and a Senior Scholar Award for the MSFHR (2006). He was also named a New Investigator in Emerging Infectious Diseases by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund (2000-03) and is the recipient of an E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship (2004), an NSERC award for outstanding Canadian university scientists or engineers.
Although protists and fungi compose the vast majority of eukaryotic diversity, relatively little is known about their history or biology. Dr. Keeling’s group uses molecular biology, microscopy and genome sequencing to change that. Their research creates new knowledge on several fronts. One focus is on cellular organelles such as mitochondria and plastids, from which we can learn about how the process of endosymbiosis, or the merging of two cells, can lead to a new life form with characteristics different from either of the partners. The Keeling lab also focuses on parasitism and how sophisticated intracellular parasites arise from free-living ancestors and how this process affects their cells, genomes, and metabolism.
Dr. Keeling is also a Professor in the Department of Botany at the University of British Columbia. Since he obtained his PhD in Biochemistry from Dalhousie University in 1996, Dr. Keeling has received many honours, including New Investigator awards from both the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR) and from CIHR (2001) and a Senior Scholar Award for the MSFHR (2006). He was also named a New Investigator in Emerging Infectious Diseases by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund (2000-03) and is the recipient of an E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship (2004), an NSERC award for outstanding Canadian university scientists or engineers.