Aimee Shen

Aimee Shen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology at Tufts University School of Medicine. Her research focuses on understanding the spore formation and germination mechanisms of Clostridioides difficile, a leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. These processes are critical for disease transmission, and her work aims to identify novel therapeutic targets to combat infections.

Shen earned a B.S. from the University of Alberta (1997) and a Ph.D. from Harvard University (2007). Her lab employs interdisciplinary approaches, including microscopy, genetic engineering, and biochemical analyses, to study how C. difficile spores respond to environmental cues like bile salts in the gut.

Her research has revealed key differences in spore biology between C. difficile and other bacteria, with implications for developing spore-specific therapies. Notable contributions include identifying regulators of sporulation and germination, such as the GerS lipoprotein and Csp pseudoproteases.

Shen has secured grants from the NIH and Burroughs Wellcome Fund, totaling over $10 million. She has authored over 80 publications, with recent work highlighting clade-specific C. difficile properties and novel antivirulence strategies. She teaches courses on microbiology and molecular techniques and actively participates in professional societies, including organizing Clostridium-focused conferences.