Benjamin Swarts

Benjamin Swarts is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Central Michigan University, within the College of Science & Engineering. He leads the Swarts Lab, which specializes in developing chemical tools to study and target the mycobacterial cell envelope, particularly in pathogens like Mycobacterium tuberculosis. His research integrates synthetic organic chemistry, chemical biology, and microbiology to create probes and inhibitors for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

• Education: B.A. in Chemistry, College of Wooster (2004); Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Wayne State University (2010); Postdoctoral Fellow, UC Berkeley (2010–2013)

His research focuses on the mycomembrane—a unique outer membrane in mycobacteria rich in glycoconjugates—using synthetic and chemoenzymatic methods to develop chemical reporters, fluorogenic probes, and metabolic inhibitors. These tools enable real-time imaging, protein interaction studies, and disruption of essential biosynthetic pathways. His lab's work spans probe design, inhibitor synthesis, and application in live bacterial systems, contributing to tuberculosis research and antimicrobial development.

The recent publications highlight a strong trajectory in developing trehalose-based probes for imaging (e.g., PET and fluorogenic), targeting drug-resistant pathogens like C. difficile, and elucidating host-pathogen interactions. His work increasingly integrates interdisciplinary collaborations across microbiology, immunology, and metabolic disease.

• National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2017–2022)
• Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award (2017–2022)
• International Carbohydrate Organization Young Researcher Award (2016)
• CMU Provost’s Award for Outstanding Research (2016)
• Research Corporation Cottrell Scholar (2014–2017)

Swarts mentors a large group of undergraduate and graduate students, many of whom have received awards and gone on to advanced degrees. His lab benefits from collaborative NIH and NSF grants, including an R15 renewal and MRI funding for a 500 MHz NMR. He also leads a community college outreach program to promote STEM education and research opportunities. The lab operates within CMU’s Biosciences Building and utilizes a BSL-3 facility for infectious disease research.