The Mark Shirtliff Biofilm foundation strives to expand the boundaries of knowledge of biofilms through a world-wide exchange of ideas and research.

With a focus on Early Career Researchers, our goal is to support students, educators, and researchers in furthering not only scientific discover, but inclusive scientific community. Our work as a foundation supports the following:

• Support for Early Career Researchers via mentoring and education
• Engaging in community and scientific activities for the advancement of knowledge in the field of biofilms
• Raising funds for education and travel for activities including research visits and conference presentations

Join us as we work towards Building your Biofilm Community!

About Dr. Mark E. Shirtliff

Mark E. Shirtliff, PhD, was a Professor in the Department of Microbial Pathogenesis in the School of Dentistry with a secondary appointment as Professor in the School of Medicine. Dr. Shirtliff began his training at the University of Texas Medical Branch in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, where he received his PhD in 2001 with his thesis titled “Staphylococcus aureus: Roles in Osteomyelitis.” He then traveled to the international training center for biofilm research, the Center for Biofilm Engineering in Bozeman, Montana, as a postdoctoral fellow to continue his work on biofilms and biofilm-related diseases with late Dr. Bill Costerton and Dr. Anne Camper as mentors. Dr. Shirtliff became an assistant research professor in 2003 in the Department of Microbiology at Montana State University and later that year accepted a position as assistant professor – tenure track at the University of Maryland, Baltimore and was promoted to Full Professor with tenure in 2017. Until his very untimely death in July 2018, Dr. Shirtliff continued his research and teaching interests in biofilms and had many successfull graduate students and post docs who moved on to form their own research groups as well as continuing the impact of the regulatory field.