Virginia Tech® home

Allie Igwe

Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences
Allie_Igwe
2028 Derring Hall (MC 0406)
926 West Campus Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0460
USA
aigwe@vt.edu
(540) 231-9967

Major Fields of Interest

Environmental microbial ecology, plant-microbe interactions, geobiology, extremophiles

Current Research

Research in the Igwe Lab generally focuses on at least one of three topics: Life in Extreme Environments, Microbiome-Based Horticultural and Agricultural Improvements, or Soil Conservation, Remediation, and Regeneration.

We use a range of tools from ecology, microbiology, and molecular biology to answer fundamental questions about how organisms exist in otherwise inhospitable habitats and apply that knowledge to improve the health of people and the planet.

  • Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech (2024 - present)
  • USDA NIFA Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Miami and Rice University (2023 - 2024)
  • NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Miami (2020 - 2023)
  • Ph.D., Microbiology, University of California-Davis (2020)
  • M.S., Soil Science, Texas A&M University (2015)
  • B.S., Biology, Howard University (2013)

Scholarships and Awards

  • 10/2018 - Jastro Research Scholarship Award. Funded $3,000
  • 12/2017 - California Native Plant Society. Funded $1,500
  • 11/2014 - TAMU Three Minute Thesis Competition. 1st Place Masters - tinyurl.com/igwe3mt
  • 05/2014 - Travel Award - Undergraduate Diversity at Evolution 2014
  • 04/2014 - Kate and Tony Sutherland Endowed Scholarship. Funded $1,000
  • 08/2009 - Laureate Scholarship. Funded ~$157,192


Honors

  • 01/2014 - Gamma Sigma Delta, The Honor Society of Agriculture
  • 05/2013 - Phi Beta Kappa
  • 12/2011 - Beta Kappa Chi Scientific Honor Society