91³ÉÈË

Dr. Christopher Pierce serves as Associate Dean of the School of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering and Associate Professor of Biology at the 91³ÉÈË.

As Associate Dean, Dr. Pierce provides leadership in academic programs, student success initiatives, and faculty development across the school. He collaborates with faculty and administrators to strengthen STEM education, promote innovation in teaching and research, and expand opportunities for students. His work is grounded in a commitment to mentorship, access, and building a supportive academic community.

Dr. Pierce’s research focuses on fungal infections, particularly Candida albicans, examining biofilm formation, filamentation, and strategies for developing new antifungal therapies. He is deeply committed to mentoring undergraduate researchers and engaging students in meaningful, hands-on scientific inquiry.

He teaches courses in microbiology, medical mycology, and cell and molecular biology, with an emphasis on connecting classroom concepts to real-world applications. Across his teaching, research, and leadership roles, Dr. Pierce is dedicated to supporting student success and advancing STEM education.

• Ph.D. Cell and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2012
• M.S. Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2007
• B.S. Biology, Missouri Southern State University, 2005

• Associate Dean, School of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering, Univeristy of the Incarnate Word, 2026 - Present
• Associate Professor, Department of Biology, 91³ÉÈË, 2022 - Present
• Chair, Department of Biology, 91³ÉÈË, 2022 - 2025
• Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, 91³ÉÈË, 2015 - 2022
• Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Biology and the South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases (STCEID), The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2013 - 2015

Selected Primary Research Articles

• Pierce, C.G. and O. Caglayan (2025) BOARD #191 Design of an optical sensing system in near-ultraviolet (UV) spectrum to detect environmental surface contamination. Paper presented at 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Montreal, Quebec, Canada doi: 10.18260/1-2—55545. https://peer.asee.org/55545
• Romo, J.A., C.G. Pierce, A.K. Chaturvedi, S. P. Saville, and J.L. Lopez-Ribot (2019) Disarming a Transformer Fungus. Frontiers for Young Minds. doi: 10.3389/frym.2019.00047
• Romo, J.A., C.G. Pierce, M. Esqueda, C.Y. Hung, S.P. Saville, and J.L. Lopez-Ribot (2018) In vitro characterization of biaryl amide anti-virulence compound targeting Candida albicans filamentation and biofilm formation. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00227
• Garner, R.N., C.G. Pierce, C.R. Reed, and W.W. Brennessel. (2017) Photoinitiated treatment of Mycobacterium using Ru (II) isoniazid complexes. Inorg Chim Acta 461: 261-6.
• Romo, J.A.*, C.G. Pierce*, A.K. Chaturvedi, A.L. Lazzell, S.F. McHardy, S.P. Saville, and J.L. Lopez-Ribot (2017) Development of anti-virulence approaches for candidiasis via a novel series of small-molecule inhibitors of Candida albicans filamentation. mBio 8:e01991-17. https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.01991-17. *J.A.R. and C.G.P. contributed equally to the work.
• Pierce, C.G., A.K. Chaturvedi, A.L. Lazzell, A.T. Powell, S.P. Saville, S.F. McHardy, and J.L. Lopez-Ribot. (2015) A novel small molecule inhibitor of Candida albicans biofilm formation, filamentation and virulence with low potential for the development of resistance. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 1: 15012. Doi 10.1038/npjbiofilms.2015.12.
• Pierce, C.G., S.P. Saville, and J.L. Lopez-Ribot. (2014) High content phenotypic screenings to identify inhibitors of Candida albicans biofilm formation and filamentation. Pathogens and Disease 70(3): 423-31.
• Pierce, C.G., D.P. Thomas, and J.L. Lopez-Ribot (2009) Effect of tunicamycin on Candida albicans biofilm formation and maintenance. J Antimicrob Chemother 63(3): 473-9.
• Pierce, C.G., P. Uppuluri, A.R. Tristan, F.L. Wormley, E. Mowat, G. Ramage, and J.L. Lopez-Ribot. (2008) A simple and reproducible 96-well plate-based method for the formation of fungal biofilms and its application to antifungal susceptibility testing. Nature Protocols 3: 1494-1500.

Selected Review Articles

• Pierce, C.G., T. Vila, J.A. Romo, D. Montelongo-Jauregui, G. Wall, A. Ramasubramanian, and J.L. Lopez-Ribot (2017) The Candida albicans biofilm matrix: Composition, structure and function. Journal of Fungi 3(14): doi:10.3390/jof3010014
• Pierce, C.G., A. Srinivasan, A.K. Ramasubramanian, and J.L. Lopez-Ribot. (2015) From biology to drug development: New approaches to combat the threat of fungal biofilms. Microbiol Spectrum 3(3):MB-0007-2014. doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.MB-0007-2014.
• Pierce, C.G., A. Srinivasan, A., P. Uppuluri, A.K. Ramasubramanian, and J.L. Lopez-Ribot. (2013) Antifungal therapy with an emphasis on biofilms. Current Opinion Pharmacology 13(5): 726-30.

Selected Published Abstracts and Presentations

• Chavarria, H. and C.G. Pierce (2026) Plant-Derived Flavonoids as Promosing Inhibitors of Candida albicans Biofilms. National Conference on Undergraduate Research, Richmond, VA.
• Chavarria, H. and C.G. Pierce (2025) Combinatorial Screening of Hsp90 Inhibitors Reveals Novel Strategies to Combat Drug-Resistant Candida albicans Biofilms. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists, San Antonio, TX.
• Towers, O.K, R.A. Adrian, and C.G. Pierce (2024) Synthesizing Novel Cobalt(II) and Copper(II) Imidazole and Phenanthroline Complexes: The Relationship Between Structure and Antifungal Efficacy. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists, Pittsburgh, PA.
• Jacob, R.E., M. Gutierrez, R.A. Adrian, and C.G. Pierce (2024) Novel Copper(II) Phenanthroline Complexes as Inhibitors of Candida albicans Biofilm Formation. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists, Pittsburgh, PA.
• Jacob, R.E., O.K. Towers, A.R. Gonzalez, R.A. Adrian, and C.G. Pierce (2023) Effect of Zinc Synthesized Compounds on Candida albicans Biofilm Growth. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Students, Phoenix, AZ.
• Towers O.K., R.E. Jacob, L. Flores, R.A. Adrian, and C.G. Pierce (2023) Using palladium-based compounds to treat Candida albicans biofilm growth. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Students, Phoenix, AZ.
• Meehan, J. and C.G. Pierce (2023) Repurposing statins for the treatment of drug-resistant Candida albicans biofilms. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Students, Phoenix, AZ.
• Alvarez, A.C., R. Lechler, L. Stering, and C.G. Pierce (2023) Combating drug-resistant Candida albicans biofilms with Hsp90 Inhibitors. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Students, Phoenix, AZ.
• Alvarez, A.C. and C.G. Pierce (2022) Combating drug-resistant fungal biofilms using a heat shock protein 90 inhibitor. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Students, Anaheim, CA.
• Sterling, L. and C.G. Pierce (2022) Targeting the molecular chaperone, Hsp90, to inhibit Candida albicans biofilm formation. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Students, Anaheim, CA.
• Lechler, R.G. and C.G. Pierce (2022) Novel Hsp90 inhibitor represents promising treatment strategy for targeting Candida albicans virulence traits. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Students, Anaheim, CA.
• Lechler, R.G. and C.G. Pierce (2021) Effect of a novel Hsp-90 Inhibitor on Candida albicans biofilm growth and filamentation. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students, virtual conference.
• Villarreal III, J., C.J. Winski, and C.G. Pierce (2020) Treating drug-resistant Candida albicans biofilms with Hsp90 inhibitors. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students, virtual conference.
• Winter, A.Y., M.R. Armstrong-VanLaar, C.G. Pierce (2020) Effect of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors on Candida albicans biofilm formation. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students, virtual conference.
• Salazar, A.M, A. Ruiz, C.G. Pierce, and R.N. Garner (2020) Singlet oxygen susceptibility of Candida albicans. Texas Academy of Science, Nacogdoches, Texas.

• BIOL 1401 Diveristy of Life and Lab
• BIOL 1402 General Biology I for Majors
• BIOL 2474 Introductory Microbiology and Laboratory
• BIOL 3202 Research Methods in Cell and Molecular Genetics
• BIOL 3311 Cell Biology
• BIOL 4365 Medical Mycology

Dr. Pierce studies the fungus, Candida albicans, which is capable of causing disease, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Candida infections are the fourth most common nosocomial, or hospital-acquired, infection. The seriousness of these infections is heightened with unacceptably high mortality and the limited number of antifungal drugs. Dr. Pierce's research has been focused on understanding the role of biofilm formation and filamentation in C. albicans infections and the development of novel agents targeting these virulence factors associated with infection.

Dr. Pierce's current research interests lie in identifying and subsequently characterizing the activity of anti-biofilm and anti-filamentation compounds, with emphasis on minimizing the potential to induce resistance. The main components of his research are: (i) Identify anti-virulence compounds from commercially available small molecule libraries. These libraries represent a promising arsenal of potential antifungal candidates that can be screened for inhibition of biofilm formation and filamentation. (ii) Characterize the mechanism(-s) of action of the identified inhibitors of biofilm formation and filamentation. These studies include the effects of compounds on global mechanisms of biofilm formation (adhesion, proliferation, and maturation), drug combination studies, development of resistance assays, cytotoxicity assays, and identification of the molecular targets.

The environment of Dr. Pierce's laboratory at 91³ÉÈË is focused on training and developing undergraduate students as independent researchers. Dr. Pierce has mentored a number of students in the lab. Students in the lab have presented their work at 91³ÉÈË Research Week, as well as, regional and state conferences. Mentoring students, whether in the classroom, research lab or at scientific conferences, is one of Dr. Pierce's passions.