Phil Stewart

Phil Stewart is a Regents Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Montana State University (MSU), affiliated with the Center for Biofilm Engineering and the Montana Nanotechnology Facility. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University (1988) and has extensive experience in biofilm research, including postdoctoral work at the Institut Jacques Monod (Paris) and industry roles at Bechtel Environmental and Lonza AG.

Research Focus: Stewart specializes in biofilm control strategies, transport phenomena, and antimicrobial agent development. His work addresses biofilm-related challenges in medical devices, chronic wounds, and industrial systems. Key areas include biofilm modeling, detachment mechanisms, and the interplay between biofilms and host immunity.

Grants & Awards: Notable grants include leadership of the Montana Nanotechnology Facility (NSF-funded) and NASA projects on biofilm mitigation in space. Awards include MSU's highest faculty honor, Regents Professor (2019), and recognition as a NACOE Distinguished Professor (2018).

• Education: Ph.D. (1988), M.S. (1985) in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University; B.S. (1982) in Chemical Engineering from Rice University.
• Courses Taught: EBIO 216 (Elementary Principles of Biological Engineering) and EBIO 566 (Fundamentals of Biofilm Engineering).
• Key Contributions: Over 200 peer-reviewed publications, including seminal works on biofilm lifecycle models, antimicrobial tolerance, and neutrophil-biofilm interactions. His research impacts chronic wound treatment, infection control, and biofilm-resistant materials.
• Outreach: Active in global biofilm conferences, industry collaborations, and public education via the CBE's Bioglyphs Initiative.