Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
My research centers on the evolution and ecology of fungi across their broad spectrum of roles in ecosystems and human lives. I primarily use genomics, and I currently have two main research thrusts:
- identify fungal communities in healthy, diseased, and changing environments
- determine the genomic pathways of fungal evolution in response to biotic and abiotic environmental variation
The first part of my research is essentially about measuring fungal biodiversity and inferring its role in larger communities. Genomics serves the dual purpose of allowing high-throughput identification via targeted sequencing while also allowing fine-scale partitioning of diversity via resequencing. The second part of my research is focused on how genomes evolve in response to environments. This research uses experiments to measure mutation types and rates in a variety of environmental conditions, and my research also uses natural populations to discover how recombination and spatial structure modify fungal evolution. With more genomes sequenced than any other eukaryotic group, fungi offer unique opportunities to study how these complex organisms respond to stressful or permissive environments.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Has Antimicrobial Production Shaped Fungal Endophyte Diversification
Henk, D. (PI)
1/10/22 → 30/09/26
Project: UK charity
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Has antimicrobial production shaped fungal endophyte diversification?
Henk, D. (PI)
1/10/22 → 30/09/26
Project: UK charity
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CFG Scale up low emission yeast technology
Henk, D. (PI) & Chuck, C. (CoI)
Innovate UK, Innovate UK Business Connect
2/10/23 → 30/06/25
Project: Central government, health and local authorities
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DNA-based approaches to identify fungi responsible for degradation of historic fibrous plaster
Henk, D. (PI)
1/02/22 → 31/03/25
Project: Central government, health and local authorities
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An Integrated Approach to Explore a Novel Paradigm for Biofuel Production from Lignocellulosic Feedstocks
Arnot, T. (PI), Leak, D. (PI), Coma Bech, M. (CoI), Crennell, S. (CoI) & Henk, D. (CoI)
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
1/03/17 → 31/03/22
Project: Research council
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Extrinsic and Intrinsic Determinants of Thermal Conductivity in Mycelium Composites
Wildman, J., Shea, A., Walker, P. & Henk, D., 31 May 2025, In: Building Services Engineering Research and Technology. 46, 3, p. 317-338Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile94 Downloads (Pure) -
Towards Circular and Sustainable Insulation Solutions: Resolving Uncertainty in the Thermal Conductivity of Mycelium-Based Composites (MBCs)
Wildman, J., Shea, A., Henk, D., Naido, M. & Walker, P., 9 Jan 2025, The 1st International Conference on Net-Zero Built Environment - Innovations in Materials, Structures, and Management Practices. Kioumarsi, M. & Shafei, B. (eds.). Cham, Switzerland: Springer, p. 539-550 12 p. (Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering; vol. 237).Research output: Chapter or section in a book/report/conference proceeding › Chapter in a published conference proceeding
Open Access -
Assessing Metschnikowia pulcherrima as a potential probiotic yeast for animal feed
Al-Nijir, M., Henk, D., Bedford, M. & Chuck, C., 25 Apr 2024, In: Sustainable Microbiology. 1, 1, 10 p., qvae008.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Metabolic modelling uncovers the complex interplay between fungal probiotics, poultry microbiomes, and diet
Al-Nijir, M., Chuck, C., Bedford, M. & Henk, D., 20 Dec 2024, In: Microbiome. 267.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Moisture and fungal degradation in fibrous plaster
Maundrill, Z., Dams, B., Ansell, M., Henk, D., Ezugwu, E., Harney, M., Stewart, J. & Ball, R., 10 Mar 2023, In: Construction and Building Materials. 369, 130604.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile13 Citations (SciVal)148 Downloads (Pure)