{"665198":{"#nid":"665198","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Steve Diggle Named Director of the Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection at Georgia Tech","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe College of Sciences is pleased to announce the appointment of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/people\/stephen-diggle\u0022\u003ESteve Diggle\u003C\/a\u003E as the director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/microdynamics.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECenter for Microbial Dynamics and Infection (CMDI)\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EDiggle is a professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Biological Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E and the principal investigator for the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.thedigglelab.com\/\u0022\u003EDiggle Lab\u003C\/a\u003E. He takes over the CMDI leadership position from Biological Sciences Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/people\/sam-brown\u0022\u003ESam Brown\u003C\/a\u003E, who has served as CMDI\u2019s director since January 2020.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EFounded in 2018, CMDI seeks to understand the chemical, physical, and biological connections that together underpin microbial dynamics. The Center\u2019s science research includes a wide variety of disciplines \u2014 microbial ecology, microbiome dynamics, biogeochemistry, microbial biophysics, socio-microbiology, infection dynamics, host-pathogen interactions, marine and aquatic microbiology, microbial evolution, viral ecology, spatial imaging, and math\/computational modeling.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s an honor to be chosen for this,\u201d Diggle said. \u201cI think that what\u2019s really exciting is that when I joined Georgia Tech in 2017, we were only just developing microbiology here. What\u2019s happened since is that microbiology has taken on a much bigger profile at Georgia Tech. We\u2019re now at the point where we are attracting really strong graduate students specifically to do microbiology, which is great. CMDI is more visible now, and I think that\u2019s one reason graduate students are applying.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cSteve Diggle is a perfect fit to lead CMDI forward,\u201d Brown said. \u201cSteve\u0027s research showcases impactful interdisciplinary research, combining molecular biology with ecology and evolution to understand what makes microbes tick, and how we can better control them. Steve has also shown a lasting commitment to mentorship and scientific service, and so I\u0027m sure CMDI is in very good hands.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGrowth of the Center\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EBrown said the Center continues to add key personnel. In the past year, CMDI announced its inaugural Early Career Award Fellow in \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/no-separations-meet-ellinor-alseth-cmdis-first-early-career-award-fellow\u0022\u003EEllinor Alseth\u003C\/a\u003E, and its first grant writing specialist, Senior Research Scientist \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/microdynamics.gatech.edu\/cmdi-writing-support\u0022\u003ECarina Baskett\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cDr. Alseth is leading through her science, pulling multiple labs together to form new collaborations. Thanks to Dr. Baskett, we have substantially increased our rate of applications for both postdoctoral and postgraduate fellowships, and she has also led the pursuit of multi-principal investigator grants,\u201d Brown added.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe CMDI has also boosted inclusive resources that supported trainee and staff recruiting visits to underrepresented minority-serving conferences and local institutions, and provided additional stipends to help underrepresented minority recruits with relocation costs to Atlanta. The Center has also re-launched its showcase public event, MicrobeATL, a speaker series designed to integrate the microbiology research community across Atlanta that was paused during the pandemic.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ECMDI targets models of human disease, but also complex microbial communities in a range of aquatic and terrestrial environments. This research is united by the beliefs that studying across systems is essential for identifying organizing principles, and fully understanding microbial ecology and evolution requires knowledge of social interactions over space and time.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EDiggle added that the CMDI\u2019s research priorities include climate change\u2019s impact on the microbial world, and searching for new drugs that can tame antibiotic-resistant pathogens. \u201cAntibiotic resistance is one of the great problems we\u0027re facing in the future,\u201d he explained. That problem is why CMDI scientists like \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/people\/julia-kubanek\u0022\u003EJulia Kubanek\u003C\/a\u003E, professor in the School of Biological Sciences and Georgia Tech\u2019s Vice President for Interdisciplinary Research, are \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/cmdi-mighty-microbial-dynamics-healthier-people-and-planet\u0022\u003Escouring oceans\u003C\/a\u003E for natural antibacterial alternatives.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EDiggle also hopes to continue attracting the world\u2019s top microbiology researchers to join the CMDI faculty while seeking out more external funding. \u201cThe ultimate goal is to make Georgia Tech one of the best places to come and do microbiology research in the U.S. Given what we\u2019ve accomplished so far, I think that\u0027s a reasonable goal.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMeet Steve Diggle\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EDiggle\u2019s research interests focus on cooperation and communication in microbes, and how these are related to virulence, biofilms, and antimicrobial resistance. He has a longstanding interest in understanding how the opportunistic pathogen \u003Cem\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/problematic-pathogen-develops-antibiotic-tolerance-without-previous-exposure\u0022\u003EPseudomonas aeruginosa\u003C\/a\u003E \u003C\/em\u003Ecauses disease, and is especially interested in how this organism evolves during chronic infections such as those found in cystic fibrosis patients and chronic wounds.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EDiggle received his B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Salford in the United Kingdom, and earned a Ph.D. in Molecular Microbiology from the University of Nottingham in 2001. He was a postdoctoral fellow at Nottingham before obtaining a Royal Society University Fellowship (2006-2014). He joined the School of Biological Sciences at Georgia Tech in 2017 and was named a full professor in 2022.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EDiggle currently serves as a senior editor on the editorial board of the journal Microbiology. He has previously served on the editorial boards of FEMS Microbiology Letters, BMC Microbiology, Microbiology Open and Royal Society Open Science. He served as an elected member of the Microbiology Society Council from 2012-2016, and was also on their conference and policy committees. In 2020, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/honoring-our-faculty-college-sciences-announces-2020-award-recipients\u0022\u003EDiggle received the Cullen-Peck Scholar Award\u003C\/a\u003E, which recognizes research accomplishments led by College of Sciences faculty at the associate professor or advanced assistant professor level. Diggle was selected as an American Society for Microbiology Distinguished Lecturer in 2021.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ELearn more about Diggle\u2019s research:\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/cmdi-mighty-microbial-dynamics-healthier-people-and-planet\u0022\u003ECMDI: Mighty Microbial Dynamics for a Healthier People and Planet\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\t\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/problematic-pathogen-develops-antibiotic-tolerance-without-previous-exposure\u0022\u003EA Problematic Pathogen Develops Antibiotic Tolerance \u2014 Without Previous Exposure\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\t\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbout Georgia Tech\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Institute of Technology, or Georgia Tech, is a top 10 public research university developing leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. The Institute offers business, computing, design, engineering, liberal arts, and sciences degrees. Its nearly 44,000 students representing 50 states and 149 countries, study at the main campus in Atlanta, at campuses in France and China, and through distance and online learning. As a leading technological university, Georgia Tech is an engine of economic development for Georgia, the Southeast, and the nation, conducting more than $1 billion in research annually for government, industry, and society.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"The College of Sciences is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Diggle as the director of the Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection (CMDI). Diggle is a professor in the School of Biological Sciences."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe College of Sciences is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Diggle as the director of the Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection (CMDI). Diggle is a professor in the School of Biological Sciences and the principal investigator for the Diggle Lab.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The College of Sciences is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Diggle as the director of the Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection (CMDI). Diggle is a professor in the School of Biological Sciences."}],"uid":"34434","created_gmt":"2023-01-27 16:47:44","changed_gmt":"2023-11-17 16:53:08","author":"Renay San Miguel","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2023-01-27T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2023-01-27T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"665203":{"id":"665203","type":"image","title":"Steve Diggle","body":null,"created":"1674844572","gmt_created":"2023-01-27 18:36:12","changed":"1674844572","gmt_changed":"2023-01-27 18:36:12","alt":"","file":{"fid":"251591","name":"Steve Diggle.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/Steve%20Diggle.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/Steve%20Diggle.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":110682,"path_740":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/Steve%20Diggle.jpg?itok=VynJD5FB"}}},"media_ids":["665203"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/microdynamics.gatech.edu","title":"Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection"},{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/cmdi-mighty-microbial-dynamics-healthier-people-and-planet","title":"CMDI: Mighty Microbial Dynamics for a Healthier People and Planet"},{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/problematic-pathogen-develops-antibiotic-tolerance-without-previous-exposure","title":"A Problematic Pathogen Develops Antibiotic Tolerance \u2014 Without Previous Exposure"},{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/no-separations-meet-ellinor-alseth-cmdis-first-early-career-award-fellow","title":"No Separations: Meet Ellinor Alseth, CMDI\u2019s First Early Career Award Fellow"},{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/inaugural-cmdi-cdc-symposium-offers-perspectives-infectious-disease-dynamics","title":"Inaugural CMDI-CDC Symposium Offers Perspectives on Infectious Disease Dynamics"}],"groups":[{"id":"620089","name":"Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection (CMDI)"},{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1275","name":"School of Biological Sciences"}],"categories":[{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192250","name":"cos-microbial"},{"id":"4896","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"166882","name":"School of Biological Sciences"},{"id":"192003","name":"Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection (CMDI)"},{"id":"168156","name":"Steve Diggle"},{"id":"167225","name":"Sam Brown"},{"id":"5696","name":"Microbiology"},{"id":"7077","name":"bacteria"},{"id":"192004","name":"Ellinor Alseth"},{"id":"192005","name":"Carina Baskett"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWriter\/Media Contact:\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nRenay San Miguel\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nCommunications Officer II\/Science Writer\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nCollege of Sciences\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n404-894-5209\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["renay.san@cos.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}