Bioengineering
Professor of Practice
Dr. Bartko is currently an adjunct professor and professor of practice in the Bioengineering department within the Jacobs School of Engineering and Pediatrics department within the School of Medicine. Dr. Bartko’s research is centered on microbial identification as applied to rapid microbial methods for defense, diagnostics, and quality assurance. Dr. Bartko has successfully created, commercialized, and licensed multiple inventions in the life sciences field. Since 2020, Dr. Bartko has been the Executive Director of the Center for Microbiome Innovation (CMI). In his role at CMI, he leads a matrixed research organization that develops technological solutions to applied industrial problems in the nutrition, human health, and environment fields. Dr. Bartko’s background is diverse and includes single molecule spectroscopy, ultrafast electrodynamics of quantum confined nanoparticles, advanced classifier algorithms, artificial intelligence, systems engineering, and medical device product development. Dr. Bartko’s work continues to focus on leveraging his background in microbial sensing, process integration, and sensor engineering to advance the global understanding of microbiome and metabolomic impacts on human health and wellness.
Bio
Bartko earned his Bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh in 1997, and Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2002. Bartko then joined the Nanotechnology and Advanced Spectroscopy team at Los Alamos National Laboratory. In 2003, Bartko joined Battelle Memorial Institute where his research spanned electronics, avionics, lithography, plasmonic sensors, chemical and biological environmental sensing, self-assembled waveguide optoelectronics, microbial contamination control, clinical diagnostics productization, and advanced microbial spectroscopy. He is the recipient of Battelle’s Inventor of the Year 2017, Team Leader of the Year 2015, and Business Developer of the Year 2014.