Alan W. Decho

Alan W. Decho is a Professor and Associate Dean for Research at the Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina. He holds a B.A. in Geology/Biology from Eastern Connecticut State University, an M.S. in Zoology/Microbiology from Ohio University, and a Ph.D. in Zoology/Microbiology from Louisiana State University. His research focuses on microbial biofilms, particularly their roles in health, environmental processes, and nanotechnology applications.

Decho's academic career includes roles as Director of the Microbial Interactions Laboratory and Associate Chair for Graduate Studies. He has received prestigious awards such as the AAAS Fellowship (2021), Fulbright Senior Research Fellowship (2013), and Researcher of the Year (1999). His work bridges disciplines like microbiology, environmental science, and nanotechnology.

Key research interests include biofilm dynamics, quorum sensing, antibiotic resistance, and microbial matrix interactions. He teaches courses on biofilms and public health microbiology. Over 130 peer-reviewed articles highlight his contributions to understanding biofilm structures, nanomaterials for antibiotic delivery, and microbial communication in extreme environments.

Decho leads funded projects from NIH, NSF, and NASA, addressing antibiotic efficacy, microbial matrices in stromatolites, and climate change impacts on ocean health. His lab explores novel antimicrobial strategies and astrobiology through microbial genomics.