Dr. Robert JC McLean

I began working with biofilms during my PhD studies with JW Costerton in Calgary from 1982-1986 and postdoc with TJ Beveridge at Guelph from 1986-88. I have been an independent PI since 1988; first at Queen's University in Canada and since 1993 at my current academic appointment at Texas State University. My early studies with biofilms involved electron and light microscopy investigations of biofilms associated with Proteus mirabilis urinary infections and associated urinary calculi. These studies began during my graduate work and continued through my postdoc and my first academic appointment at Queens’ University. I moved to Texas State University in 1993, where I shifted my research focus from urinary tract biofilms to studying the basic biology of biofilms including their roles in biomineralization. Since 2008 have started investigating the mechanisms of mixed culture interactions in biofilm and planktonic communities using Escherichia coli and a number of other organisms. In 1998, we had a biofilm experiment on the space shuttle and based on those findings, I am currently working with collaborators at Arizona State and NASA to study polymicrobial biofilm growth in microgravity in a planned experiment on the International Space Station. During my career I have had the privilege of working with a number of outstanding students and collaborators.