Caleb D. Phillips

Interim Assistant Director, Natural Science Research Laboratory, Museum of TTU

Curator of Genetic Resources, Natural Science Research Laboratory, Museum of TTU

Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University

Ph.D., Genetics, Purdue University, 2009
M.S., Biology, Tarleton State University, 2006
B.S., Biology, Tarleton State University, 2003

The Phillips laboratory studies metagenomic and genomic evolution underlying mammalian adaptations. Owing to the diversity and uniqueness of bats, most of our current projects utilize chiropteran systems.

Our work in metagenomics is geared to understand the relationship between the function and phylogenetic distribution of genes occurring in microbial genomes, the observed microbiome community structure of (and variance among) individual hosts, and host lineage-specific functional differences of metagenomes. By incorporating concepts developed in thefields of evolutionary biology, genomics, phylogenetics, physiology and ecology, this work builds systems-level understanding of organismal function.

Our work in genomics devolves from our interest in understanding how evolution of gene expression explains functional differences across lineages. For example, we are interested in identifying which genes have been recruited (i.e. turned on)in specific tissues of some bat species, but not others, and how these recruitments are adaptive to the different diets of these species. Related, we are developing projects to understand gene expression changes as a physiological response to flight and foraging. A uniting theme of our work is the goal of understanding the diversity of ways in which genomic function evolves to support success in different dietary niches.

Contact Information

Office Phone: (806)834-8181
Email: caleb.phillips@ttu.edu

Web Links

Curriculum vitae

The Robert J. Baker Genetic Resources Collection

Google Scholar Site

Phillips' Laboratory

Selected Publications

Gabrilska R, Omeir K, Ancira J, Tipton C, Miller C, Noe A, Subasinghe K, Rowe M, Phillips N Wolcott J, Phillips CD (2025) Heritable tissue-specific gene expression associates with chronic wound microbial species. npj Biofilms and Microbiomes. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41522-025-00831-6

Ancira J, Gabrilska R, Tipton CD, Miller C, Stickley Z, Omeir K, Wakeman C, Little T, Wolcott J, Phillips CD (2025) A Structural equation model predicts chronic wound healing time using patient characteristics and wound microbiome composition. Wound Repair and Regeneration. doi: 10.1111/wrr.70004.

Neha SA, Hanson JD, Wilkinson JE, Bradley RD, Phillips CD (2025) Impacts of host phylogeny, diet, and geography on the gut microbiome of rodents. PLoS One. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0316101 

Omeir K, Ancira J, Gabrilska R, Tipton C, Miller C, Noe A, Subasinghe K, Rowe M, Phillips N Wolcott J, Phillips CD (2025) Heritable tissue-specific gene expression associates with chronic wound microbial species. Wound Repair and Regeneration. doi: 10.1111/wrr.70055.

Avirineni, B.S., Singh, A., Zapata, R.C., Stevens, R.D., Phillips, C.D. and Chelikani, P.K. (2022) Diets Containing Egg or Whey Protein and Inulin Fiber Improve Energy Balance and Modulate Gut Microbiota in Exercising Obese Rats. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research. Doi: 10.1002/mnfr.202100653

Amarilla-Stevens, H.N., Stevens, R.D., Phillips, C.D., Bradley, R.D. (2022) Temporal Rate of Post-mortem DNA Degradation in Archived Tissue Samples: Evidence from Liver and Muscle. Journal of Mammalogy, 104:194-202. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyac089 

Soniat TJ, Sihaloho H, Stevens RD, Little TD, Phillips CD, Bradley RD (2021) Temporal-dependent effects of DNA degradation on frozen tissues archived at -80^oC. Journal of Mammalogy 102: 375-383. DOI:10.1093/jmammal/gyab009 

Phillips CD, Dunnum JL, Dowler RC, Bradley LC, Garner HJ, Macdonald KA, Lim BK, Revelez MA, Campbell ML, Lutz HL, Ordonez-Garza N, Cook JA, Bradley RD, And The Systematic Collections Committee Of The American Society Of Mammalogists (2019) Curatorial guidelines and standards of the American Society of Mammalogists for collections of genetic resources. Journal of Mammalogy, 100(5): 1690-1694.

Tipton CD, Sanford NE, Everett JA, Gabrilska RA, Wolcott RD, Rumbaugh KP, Phillips CD (2019) Chronic wound microbiome colonization on mouse model following cryogenic preservation. PLoS ONE, 14(8): e0221565