Catherine Armbruster

Catherine Armbruster is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University, affiliated with the Mellon College of Science. Her research focuses on understanding how opportunistic pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa evolve in biofilms within the built environment (e.g., potable water systems) and transition into host environments to cause chronic infections, particularly in cystic fibrosis patients. Her work integrates bacterial genetics, evolutionary genomics, and host-pathogen models to identify strategies for preventing and treating infections.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle
• MPH from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health
• Postdoctoral appointments at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth

Research Interests: The Armbruster Lab explores microbial evolution in biofilms of premise plumbing, host-pathogen interactions in cystic fibrosis airways, and antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. Key areas include:

• Polymicrobial biofilm dynamics in potable water
• Epidemiology of opportunistic pathogens in built environments
• Genomic adaptation of pathogens during infection
• Development of novel therapeutic and engineering solutions

Recent Work Trends: Her publications emphasize the interplay between environmental adaptation and host infection, with a focus on iron availability, potassium sensing mechanisms, and CFTR modulator therapy impacts on pathogen persistence. She also investigates bacteriophage interactions with airway epithelial cells and their inflammatory effects.

Labs/Teams: The Armbruster Lab emphasizes diversity and collaboration, fostering an inclusive environment for students and researchers. Current projects aim to bridge environmental microbiology and clinical outcomes through innovative experimental evolution and metagenomic approaches.