Stephen Dolan

Stephen Dolan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Genetics and Biochemistry at Clemson University, located in the College of Science. His research focuses on microbial interactions in polymicrobial infections, particularly in cystic fibrosis (CF) contexts. He investigates fungal-bacterial interactions, using comparative 'omics and physiological approaches to understand how pathogens adapt in complex environments.

Dr. Dolan holds a PhD from Maynooth University (2016) under Dr. Sean Doyle, followed by a Cystic Fibrosis Foundation postdoctoral fellowship at Georgia Tech/Emory University (2021–2023) under Dr. Marvin Whiteley. Previously, he was a Herchel Smith Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge. His lab, based in the Life Sciences Building, explores therapeutic strategies against CF infections through understanding cross-kingdom microbial communication.

Research interests include polymicrobial pathogenesis, metabolic flexibility in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aspergillus fumigatus, and the development of novel interventions. His work bridges fundamental biology and translational medicine, leveraging systems biology approaches to dissect infection mechanisms.

Publications span topics like organic acid assimilation in P. aeruginosa, gliotoxin biosynthesis in A. fumigatus, and metabolic regulation in bacterial pathogens. He actively collaborates across institutions and promotes early-career scientist engagement in publishing and peer review.

The Dolan Lab welcomes undergraduates, graduates, and postdoctoral researchers interested in microbial physiology and infection biology. They are part of the Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center (EPIC) at Clemson.