Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about CHAOS

What is CHAOS Lab and what does it stand for?

The CHAOS Lab is the Center for geoHealth and Applied Omics Studies based at the Kentucky Geological Survey—but let’s be honest, the acronym also reflects the vibe. We sit at the collision of geoscience, microbiology, environmental health, and metal. If it glows in the dark, thrives in hellish environments, or might help cure cancer while living in a cave, we’re interested.

What kind of research do you do?

At CHAOS Lab, we don’t do tidy science—we do feral, interdisciplinary field science at the edge of environmental chaos and human health. We dig into geogenic and anthropogenic contaminants (aka what leaks out of rocks and wrecks your organs), unravel the health impacts of disasters and unstable terrain, chase down wild geo-biological interactions in extreme environments, and conduct large-scale geospatial microbiome surveillance like microbial special ops. It’s geology meets biomedicine with a side of omics, field grit, and tactical sequencing.

Caves. Karst. Extremophiles. Heavy metals. Rare earths. Water quality. Microbial dark matter. Antibiotic resistance. We map the wild microbial frontier across Kentucky and beyond, combining geologic context with high-throughput omics tools to figure out what’s living where, what it’s doing, and why it matters for health, climate, and biotech. Read more about what we do here.

How does your research impact medicine, public health or the environment?

We chase the microbes that matter—ones that influence drug resistance, cancer risk, toxin breakdown, or emerging infections. Our work informs policy, surveillance, and disaster preparedness, especially in vulnerable regions like Appalachia. Bonus: we’re also building a resource for discovering the next big antibiotic from the mud beneath your boots.

What makes your lab different?

We don't do boring. We’re interdisciplinary by design and unapologetically bold. We pair genomics with geology, field boots with pipettes, and public health with punk rock. We also say things like “feral pipette spears” unironically. Expect creativity, grit, and a no-BS commitment to doing science that matters.

Who are you affiliated with?

The lab is based at the Kentucky Geological Survey and collaborates with the University of Kentucky and a growing network of rockstar scientists, students, and creative misfits. No corporate strings. No sellouts.

How do we contact you?

We love hearing from people—whether it’s wild research ideas, collaboration pitches, cave stories, weird questions, or fanmail (especially the fanmail). You can email us at washburnchaoslab@gmail.com, fill out the contact form on our site, subscribe to stay in the loop, or message us on social media via @WashburnCHAOSLab. We check everything ourselves, usually with an energy drink in one hand and a pipette in the other (all OSHA compliant of course). Don’t be shy—we thrive on curiosity and chaos. Sometimes we even pass out stickers and other CHAOS.

Getting involved in CHAOS

How can students join the lab?

At this time, we’re not accepting new students—but that could change. Check back for updates or reach out if you’re curious. Opportunities come and go like rogue microbes in a cave stream, so you never know when a door might open.

Do you accept interns or volunteers?

If you’re interested in being a student volunteer or lab visitor, shoot us a message or email washburnchaoslab@gmail.com. We can sometimes arrange research experiences, shadowing opportunities, or other ways to get involved—especially if you're curious, reliable, and ready to learn. Just don’t show up in flip-flops.

Do you offer tours or public outreach?

Yes—and we don’t just mean slideshows. Contact us at washburnchaoslab@gmail.com to schedule a tour, request a school or community talk, or book us for public outreach. We’re happy to bring science demos, big ideas, weird microbes, and even karaoke to your classroom, library, conference, or metal festival. Seriously. Try us.

How can I collaborate with the lab?

We’re big fans of collaboration—actually, we think it’s the foundation of real science. We know we’re not experts in every area (no one is), and we love working with people from other labs, disciplines, sectors, and backgrounds. If you’re curious, open-minded, and not married to your ego, we’ll probably get along great. Just reach out: washburnchaoslab@gmail.com. Let’s build something wild together.

CHAOS Science and Research

What are your major research projects?

• The Kentucky Microbiome Map
  Mapping microbial diversity across Kentucky to reveal how geology shapes invisible ecosystems with big health impacts.

• Bioprospecting for Novel Drugs
  Hunting for new antibiotics and therapeutic compounds in extreme and overlooked environments.

• Harmful Algal Bloom Tracking
  Using microbial forensics to predict, monitor, and mitigate toxic blooms before they wreak havoc on ecosystems and public health.

• Groundwater Microbial Surveillance
  Identifying microbial signatures in karst aquifers to better understand water quality, flow, and vulnerability.

• Health Impacts of Natural Disasters
  Investigating how floods, landslides, and other disasters influence exposure to pathogens and environmental contaminants.

What is the Kentucky Microbiome Map?

It’s our blueprint for understanding microbial biogeography through geologic time and space. It is geospatial meets microbiological. It supports public health, natural product discovery, microbial studies, and bioremediation. Think Google Maps meets the resistome. Check it out here: http://kgs.uky.edu/mbiome.

What techniques do you use?

Our toolkit is as interdisciplinary as our mission. We use 16S, 18S, ITS, and metagenomic sequencing to identify microbial communities, paired with culturing, biochemical assays, and geochemical profiling. On the computational side, we analyze large bioinformatic datasets and merge them with biochemical pathway analysis and geospatial modeling to understand not just who’s there, but what they’re doing and where. From GIS to molecular networking, from field boots to pipettes to code—our methods are designed to bring the underground to light.

Can I use your data or collaborate on analysis?

Yes—with proper attribution and an actual conversation. We're open to co-analysis, especially for spatial, genomic, or health-related modeling. Respect the microbes and cite your sources.

Spreading CHAOS through Outreach and Visibility

Do you do talks, school visits, or media stuff?

Absolutely. We love weird questions and smart audiences. Reach out to washburnchaoslab@gmail.com if you want us to speak at your event, class, conference, or underground lair. We’re happy to bring science demos, big ideas, weird microbes, and even karaoke to your classroom, library, conference, or metal festival. Seriously.

Where can I follow CHAOS Lab?

Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok, Threads, ResearchGate, GoogleScholar, and www.washburnchaoslab.com for blogs, updates, and feral cave facts. Hashtags: #CHAOSLab #Geohealth #FeralScience #ScienceIsMetal

Funding and Support of CHAOS

How is the lab funded?

Our work is powered by a mix of public research grants, government funding, and private organizations and agencies that believe science should make a difference. Also: a bit of strategic chaos and the occasional offering to the gods of peer review. No paywalls. No shady deals. Just science with backbone.

Can I donate to support your work?

If you're interested in supporting this work—whether through funding opportunities, collaborative resources, or partnerships—reach out to us at washburnchaoslab@gmail.com. We’re always open to allies who believe in pushing boundaries, breaking silos, and making science count.

CHAOS in the Underworld

Why study caves?

Because they are natural biolabs, extremophile hotspots, and underground time capsules. If Earth has secrets, caves keep them. Also, bats.

Is it dangerous to work in caves?

Yes. And we do it anyway. We follow strict safety protocols, proper permitting, work in teams, and know when to turn around. Safety is science. But yes, we've encountered snakes, sinkholes, and the occasional ominous silence.

How do caves relate to health?

Caves harbor ancient resistance genes, novel pathogens, and weird metabolites with clinical potential. They also serve as models for isolation stress, air quality studies, and future space habitats.