Bonnie Bassler will lecture during the week of March 30-April 2, 2026.

Bonnie Bassler’s discoveries of how bacterial cells communicate have placed her as one of the world’s most eminent scientists in the field of microbiology. Her pioneering work began with her genetic study of microbes and the chemical signals they use to sense and respond to the cells around them, a process called “quorum sensing.” This type of cell-to-cell communication is now known to be a vital part of microbial behavior in diverse bacteria that cause disease and impact our environment in countless ways. With over 200 publications, Bassler gained early recognition through a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, followed by election to the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Academy of Sciences, and numerous other awards.