Marvin Whiteley, Ph.D.
Georgia Institue of Technology
Marvin Whiteley, Ph.D., is a Regent’s professor, Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar and the Bennie H. and Nelson D. Abell Chair in molecular and cellular biology at Georgia Tech. He earned his B.S. in zoology from the University of Texas at Austin and his Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Iowa. His accolades include, the ASM Merck Irving Sigal Memorial Award for research excellence, the Burroughs Wellcome PATH Award, recognition as a Kavli Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, multiple teaching excellence awards and election to the American Academy of Microbiology.
Whiteley's research focuses on understanding how bacterial interactions and the infection environment influence antimicrobial tolerance and infection severity. His work in developing in vitro models that replicate human infection environments led to the founding of SynthBiome Inc., a company dedicated to creating advanced model systems for antimicrobial development and testing.
The Whiteley lab also investigates how microbial communities establish micron-scale spatial structures to enhance their fitness during infection, examines the role of small RNAs in polymicrobial infections and studies microbes found in the oral cavity, chronic wound infections, cystic fibrosis lung infections and wine fermentations to provide insights into both human health and industrial microbiology.
Throughout his career, Whiteley has held several ASM leadership and editorial roles, including as President of the ASM Texas Branch, Chair of ASM Division D, a member of the ASM Publishing Committee and an ASM Branch Lecturer
Starting July 1, 2025, Whiteley assumed the role of Editor in Chief of mBio®. Prior to this appointment, he served as an editor for Infection and Immunity® and mBio.
Whiteley's research focuses on understanding how bacterial interactions and the infection environment influence antimicrobial tolerance and infection severity. His work in developing in vitro models that replicate human infection environments led to the founding of SynthBiome Inc., a company dedicated to creating advanced model systems for antimicrobial development and testing.
The Whiteley lab also investigates how microbial communities establish micron-scale spatial structures to enhance their fitness during infection, examines the role of small RNAs in polymicrobial infections and studies microbes found in the oral cavity, chronic wound infections, cystic fibrosis lung infections and wine fermentations to provide insights into both human health and industrial microbiology.
Throughout his career, Whiteley has held several ASM leadership and editorial roles, including as President of the ASM Texas Branch, Chair of ASM Division D, a member of the ASM Publishing Committee and an ASM Branch Lecturer
Starting July 1, 2025, Whiteley assumed the role of Editor in Chief of mBio®. Prior to this appointment, he served as an editor for Infection and Immunity® and mBio.