Trillions of bacteria live in our intestines. This community of microbes is called the gut microbiota. The gut microbiota is a rich source of small molecules. While the majority of gut microbiota-derived molecules are beneficial to our health (such as nutrients and vitamins), many can be harmful. Diseases such as inflammatory bowel diseases and colorectal cancer have been associated with changes in the gut microbiota of their patients. However, little is known about how these changes alter the production of small molecules and if these molecules play any role in these diseases. My research focuses on identifying these small molecules that are associated with such diseases and uncovering their role in disease.