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About

Edward B. Steager is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of microrobotics, biomedical engineering, and microbiology, whose work has fundamentally advanced the field of small-scale robotic systems for biological applications. Best known for developing magnetically actuated microrobots capable of operating in complex biological environments, Steager has made transformative contributions to biofilm eradication, single-cell manipulation, and precision diagnostics. His landmark 2019 paper on catalytic antimicrobial robots (271 citations) demonstrated that magnetically driven robots could effectively destroy bacterial biofilms — a critical advance given the global threat of antibiotic-resistant infections. Complementing this, his 2013 work on automated single-cell manipulation (232 citations) established robotic frameworks for studying cellular communication and migration at subcellular resolution. His earlier research on microbiorobots — hybrid systems integrating living microorganisms with engineered microstructures — opened entirely new avenues in bio-hybrid robotics. More recently, Steager has extended his biofilm-targeting work to fungal pathogens and clinical settings such as dental surfaces, reflecting the breadth and translational relevance of his research agenda. With multiple highly cited publications spanning over a decade, his contributions continue to shape how researchers envision the future of minimally invasive, precision medicine enabled by small-scale robotics.