DR. STEPHEN M. WRIGHT
Professor

CONTACT:
E-mail: smwright@mtsu.edu
Phone: (615) 898-2056
Fax: (615) 898-5093
Office Location:
Davis Science Building 109
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)—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 16 papers, published in: American Journal of Epidemiology, Epidemiology and Infection, Virology, Journal of Clinical Microbiology, Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, Nutrition Research, Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology. Over 30 presentations at meetings.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS:
MTSU Foundation Outstanding Teacher, 1997
President, Tennessee Academy of Science, 2005
Fellow, Tennessee Academy of Science

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 and the U.S. Department of Education.
Shepherd for new science facilities.