Robin Slawson

Robin Slawson is a Professor and Interim Chair of the Department of Biology at Wilfrid Laurier University's Faculty of Science in Waterloo, Ontario. With expertise in antibiotic resistance, microbial communities, and waterborne pathogens, he leads the Laurier Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, which serves as the Pathogen Resilience Platform for the Southern Ontario Watershed Consortium.

• Education: PhD in Environmental Microbiology (University of Guelph, 1993), MSc in Biology (University of Waterloo, 1989)

His research focuses on microbial water quality, particularly the environmental persistence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Key projects include studying biofilm formation in water distribution systems, constructed wetland bioremediation, and plant-microbe interactions in wetland root systems. Prior to Laurier, he worked as a research assistant professor at the University of Waterloo on microbiological aspects of drinking water treatment.

Recent publications highlight trends in waterborne pathogen dynamics, antibiotic resistance in wetlands, and biofilter optimization for contaminant removal. His work integrates ecological modeling, microbial community analysis, and water treatment engineering.

The lab's initiatives include the Southern Ontario Watershed Consortium's Pathogen Resilience Platform, investigating microbial responses to environmental stressors in drinking water systems and wetlands.