Robert Wheeler

Robert Wheeler is an Associate Professor of Microbiology at the University of Maine's Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering. He holds a PhD from Stanford University (2000) and an AB from Harvard University (1993), with a research focus on fungal host-pathogen interactions.

• Current research explores Candida albicans immune evasion mechanisms
• Develops transparent zebrafish models for real-time infection visualization
• Investigates β-glucan masking and NADPH oxidase functions

His work combines high-throughput cell biology and genetics to study both microbial and host strategies in infectious disease dynamics.

Selected research trends include:

• Antifungal drug side-effects on immune recognition
• Phagocyte-endothelial cell interactions
• Epithelial immune activation via EGFR pathway

Scientific awards include:

• Research Scholar, Fulbright Commission (2015-2016)

Active in academic service as section editor for Current Fungal Infection Reports and peer reviewer for multiple journals and NIH study sections.