Trevor Charles

Professor Trevor Charles is a microbiologist at the Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, specializing in bacterial molecular genetics. His research spans pathogen surveillance, bioplastics production from food waste, and plant-microbe interactions.

• Education: Ph.D. in Biology (McMaster University, 1991), B.Sc. in Microbiology (University of British Columbia, 1985)

Research interests include functional metagenomics, synthetic biology, and sustainable solutions to climate impacts on food production. His work explores microbial communities in plants and aquatic ecosystems, leveraging genetic engineering for bioproducts.

Scientific awards include fellowships from the Association of Biotechnology and Pharmacy (India) and recognition via the DBN Science and Technology Awards (China). He also received an Outstanding Performance Award in 2012.

As co-founder of Metagenom Bio Life Science, Healthy Hydroponics InnoTech, and Earth Microbial, he bridges academic innovation with entrepreneurship. He directs the Waterloo Centre for Microbial Research and leads the LiftOff Black Entrepreneurship Program.