Catherine Wakeman

Catherine A. Wakeman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Texas Tech University. Her research focuses on microbial interactions, biofilm community structure, and metalloregulation of bacterial physiology. She holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Microbiology from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (2009) and completed postdoctoral training at Vanderbilt University and UT Southwestern. Her work bridges microbiology, immunology, and biochemistry, with emphasis on infectious diseases caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.

Key research areas include:

• Polymicrobial interactions during co-infections (e.g., diabetic ulcers, cystic fibrosis lungs)
• Cellular differentiation in biofilms using MALDI imaging mass spectrometry
• Metal homeostasis as a regulatory signal for pathogenic behavior

Her lab investigates mechanisms of pathogen cooperation/competition, biofilm subpopulation roles, and immune evasion strategies. Recent work develops novel methods like the polymicrobial checkerboard assay to evaluate antibiotic effectiveness in mixed infections. She mentors graduate students Caroline Black, Alex Luecke, and Hafij Al Mahmud.

Awards and recognitions include NIH-funded grants supporting studies on bacterial biofilm dynamics and host-pathogen interactions. Her team collaborates with mass spectrometry experts and maintains an active lab website (wakemanlab.com).