Fair, constructive, and always motivating.
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Professor Mark Schembri is Professor of Microbiology in the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Faculty of Science, at the University of Queensland. He earned his BSc and PhD in Microbiology from Monash University, followed by postdoctoral studies at the Technical University of Denmark, where he received a Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Danish Natural Sciences Research Council and served as Lecturer. Schembri joined the University of Queensland in 2004 as Senior Lecturer, was promoted to Reader in 2007 and Professor in 2010. He currently serves as Centre Director of the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Professorial Research Fellow, and Group Leader of the Bacterial Pathogenesis and Antibiotic Resistance research group. Previously, he was Deputy Director of the Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre. He is President of the Australian Society for Microbiology (2022-2026) and Founding Director of the UTI Global Alliance.
Schembri's research specializes in bacterial pathogenesis and antibiotic resistance, with a focus on uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), the leading cause of urinary tract infections and a major sepsis contributor. He employs genetic, genomic, and functional approaches to study UPEC virulence, biofilms, adhesion, and the evolution of resistant clones like ST131. Over 240 peer-reviewed publications include seminal works such as 'Natural maternal immunity protects neonates from Escherichia coli sepsis' (Nature, 2026), 'Convergence of plasmid-driven virulence and antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli' (Nature Communications, 2026), 'Chemical inhibition of MrkH-dependent activation of type 3 fimbriae synthesis and biofilm formation by Klebsiella pneumoniae' (npj Biofilms and Microbiomes, 2025), and 'Evolution of the pheV-tRNA integrated genomic island in Escherichia coli' (PLoS Genetics, 2024). Since 2014, he has secured over $15 million in grants from NHMRC, ARC, and MRFF. Awards include the Frank Fenner Award (Australian Society for Microbiology, 2011), ASM BacPath Oration Award (2019), Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (2011-2015), NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship (2016-2020), Fellowship of the Australian Society for Microbiology, and election as Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology. He holds provisional patents for therapeutic agents and vaccine antigens and delivers invited lectures at international conferences.
UQ researchers uncover why some newborns avoid E. coli sepsis through maternal antibodies, advocating probiotics for pregnant women and screening to save lives.
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