DR. STEPHEN M. WRIGHT
Professor

CONTACT:
E-mail:  Stephen.Wright@mtsu.edu
Phone:  (615) 898-2056
Fax:      (615) 898-5093
Office Location:
Jones Hall 330
MTSU Box 60
Murfreesboro, TN 37132

EDUCATION:
B.A. (Liberal Arts), Northwestern College
B.S. (Natural Science), University of North Dakota
M.S. (Microbiology), University of N.D. Medical School
Ph.D. (Microbiology), University of N.D. Medical School.

RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Epidemiology of Lyme/STARI (Southern tick associated rash illness) and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever—roles of arthropod vectors and avians. Development of a biosensor—a collaborative project with colleagues in chemistry and physics. The sensor, based on surface electromagnetic wave shifts that occur in photonic band gap coated substrates, detects antigen-antibody binding as well as DNA-probe hybridization in the absence of any labels.

PUBLICATION RECORD:
Author/co-author on 20 papers, published in: American Journal of Epidemiology, Epidemiology and Infection, Virology, Journal of Clinical Microbiology, Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, Nutrition Research, Journal of Medical Entomology, Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology. Over 50 presentations at meetings.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS:
MTSU Foundation Outstanding Teacher, 1997
President, Tennessee Academy of Science, 2005
Fellow, Tennessee Academy of Science
MTSU Foundation Outstanding Research Award, 2010
Outstanding Honors Faculty Award, 2009, 2011

GRADUATE PROGRAM ROLE:
Serve as thesis advisor and committee member to M.S. degree candidates.

OTHER:
Member of Faculty 21, associated with Project Kaleidoscope, an organization of faculty from colleges and universities nationwide dedicated to improving science education.
Received over $1.5 million in funding from the National Science Foundation, the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Education.