Dr. Amir Zarrinpar is a board-certified gastroenterologist and a physician scientist who performs basic and translational research on gut microbiome and metabolism. His primary research is focused on the interactions of circadian biology, gut physiology and gut microbiome in the genesis of obesity and metabolic syndrome and involves manipulations of gut luminal environment (both content and bacteria) to understand this relationship. He obtained A.B degree in physiology and biology from Harvard University and M.D./Ph.D. from UC San Diego. The Zarrinpar lab has demonstrated that genetically engineered native gut bacteria achieve targeted manipulations of metabolism and alleviate a pathologic phenotype in mice in non-sterile conditiosn. He is a recipient of AASLD Liver Scholar Award and AGA Microbiome Junior Investigator Award. His research has been supported by a NIDDK, NHLBI, NIBIB, NCI, and NIMH.