
Dr. Paul Campbell Joins Microbe Detectives’ Advisory Board
Microbe Detectives and Aster Bio have formed a new collaboration to accelerate modern DNA insights to the world’s increasing water challenges. The collaboration aims to enable more informed, effective, and efficient strategies to optimize wastewater processes, protect human health, capital assets, and the environment, and reduce costs.
To further the collaboration, molecular biologist Paul Campbell, Ph.D., Co-Founder and President of Aster Bio, has joined Microbe Detectives’ Advisory Board. Dr. Campbell has extensive experience with microbial physiology, industrial microbiology, and fermentation. He holds a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Rice University, an MBA from Rice University, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Duke University.

“Microbe Detectives and Aster Bio are collaborating to advance molecular-based analysis solutions offered by both companies,” said John Tillotson, CEO of Microbe Detectives. “Paul has the ideal qualifications and skills to help Microbe Detectives’ advance to the next level. We are honored to have him join our Advisory Board and see very promising opportunities between our companies.”

“To solve modern water problems, we need modern water solutions such as environmental genomics” said Dr. Campbell. “Microbe Detectives is the original pioneer bringing innovative DNA analysis solutions to the water and wastewater industry in North America. Our combined capabilities are complementary and hold great potential to advance more powerful solutions to the world’s ever increasing water challenges.”
About Microbe Detectives
Microbe Detectives, a WaterTrust business, harnesses the power of modern DNA technology to analyze water and wastewater systems in municipal, industrial and agriculture markets. We empower leaders in facilities, technology, and service with knowledge about their water systems that is unprecedented. This translates into improved protection of human health, capital assets, water resources, and the environment at reduced costs. The company is a 2014 graduate of the Water Council’s BREW accelerator, winner of the 2015 Wisconsin Innovation Awards and 2017 WEF Gascoigne Award, host of the 2017 Microbiome Water Summit, and was selected to participate in the 2018 WEFTEC/BlueTech Research Innovation Showcase.
About Aster Bio
Aster Bio leads in applying the latest in molecular and laboratory testing to wastewater treatment operations. Combining field experience in wastewater treatment and advanced biochemistry, Aster Bio’s testing comes complete with actionable reports tailored to each customer’s wastewater treatment unit. Sometimes the indigenous biomass becomes insufficient or unbalanced. Symptoms can include loss of treatment efficiency, increased polymer or chemical use, or difficulty in in maintaining unit operations. Aster Bio’s bioaugmentation technology uses concentrated, naturally occurring microbes to correct biomass problems and restore treatment efficiency.