Michael Hochberg is Distinguished Research Director with the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, based at the University of Montpellier. He uses mathematical models and experiments to unravel complex ecological interactions and their evolution at scales from cells to societies. He seeks to understand how environments influence diseases, particularly those associated with bacteria, viruses and cancers. Although most of his work is fundamental science, he has a keen interest in applications and has published widely on phage therapy and novel approaches to cancer therapy. Michael is Founding Editor of Ecology Letters and an External Professor at the Santa Fe Institute.