Matthew Lawrenz, Ph.D. is Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Director of the Graduate Program in Microbiology and Immunology, and a founding member of the Center for Predictive Medicine for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Biodefense. His laboratory studies mechanisms used by Yersinia pestis to overcome nutritional immunity and manipulate the ability of immune cells to mount effective antimicrobial responses during plague. His research group also develops and uses preclinical models to test new antimicrobials to treat infections by multidrug resistant gram negative bacteria. Matt received his Ph.D. from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston and completed postdoctoral training at Washington University School of Medicine and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.