Staff profile

Dr. Weaver is an Assistant Professor at Durham University working alongside the SMART Soils lab. Having earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University, Joe spent a number of years working as a software developer. Increasingly fascinated with the potential of microbial systems to effect positive change, Joe returned to school and recevied an MSc in Environmental Engineering and PhD in Civil Engineering from  North Carolina State University. Joes work during his dissertation, which included a GANN MBTP fellowship in molecular biotechnology,  earned him the distinction of the 2020 W. Wesley Eckenfelder Graduate Research Award.

After graduating, Joe moved to Newcastle, UK as part of his independent NSF Postdoctroal Research Fellowship in Biology where he used the NUFEB agent-based model to 'connect the rules of life', particularly with respect to the Type VI Secretion System.

Joe combines his training in microbial ecology and biotechnology with his experience in software development to link fundamental ecology theory to practical microbial applications. With a history in both landfills and wastewater, Joe is now focused on designing systems to improve soil health.

• Soil Health and Regenerative Practices
• Agent-Based Models, sometimes also known as Individual-BasedModels
• Microbial Community Assembly
• Type VI Secretion Systems
• (as tools) Surrogate Modelling, Adaptive Experimental Design, Machine Learning and Computer Vision
• (as philosophies) Open Data and Software

• 2024 - 2024: EBNet Workshop: Importance of the Microenvironment:
• 2021 - 2024: NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology:
• 2020 - 2020: W. Wesley Eckenfelder Graduate Research Award:
• 2015 - 2017: GAANN Molecular Biotechnology Training Program: