Shrout-Applied Microbiology Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame
The Shrout Lab is interested to
better understand the "sociomicrobiology" of bacteria. 
Sociomicrobiology is the study of community effects of bacteria. Bacterial community behavior is important to many different aspects of bacteria,
including: survival, infection, symbiosis, and pollutant degradation.
Much of our current research focuses upon how bacteria coordinate to form attached-growth biofilm communities. We are particularly interested to explain the motility of these bacteria as they interpret their surface environment and cover the surface in a specific manner.
Our interdisciplinary research group works with colleagues in The Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences, The Department of Biological Sciences, and other departments to study microbe interactions and biofilm development important to human health, the environment, and engineered systems.
In collaboration with Gerard Wong's group at UCLA we recently showed that bacteria display several surface motility patterns, including upright walking.