Alex Valm, PhD is an Assistant Professor at the State University of New York at Albany. His research explores the relationship between structure and function in the human microbiome; especially how the physical structure of human associated-microbial communities influence health and disease. Additionally, his lab aims to further develop imaging technologies to expand the number of identifiable objects in a microbial sample as well as the development of computational tools for analysis of community structure. Dr. Valm received his PhD from Brown University and his MS from the University of North Carolina.

Daniel J. Wozniak, PhD, is a professor at Ohio State University. Dr. Wozniak’s research activities are focused on the pathogenesis of several bacteria that cause chronic, devastating infections in humans. In chronic airway infections and wounds. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Acinetobacter are the most common nosocomial pathogens isolated and are consistently associated with high mortality rates. Resources spent treating such infections in the U.S. are estimated at ~ $25 billion annually. These infections are extremely difficult to control since the bacteria exhibit a biofilm-mode of growth rendering them resistant to antimicrobials and phagocytic cells. Dr. Wozniak received his PhD from Ohio State University.