Microbiology in Motion: Dr. Ruchika Gupta
Dr. Ruchika Gupta joined the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine on August 1, 2024 as a Medical Microbiologist and Assistant Professor. Since her arrival at Western University, Dr. Gupta has distinguished herself across all dimensions of the academic mission—teaching, research, and service—with remarkable dedication and impact.
Her paper, "Vancomycin-dependent Enterococci: an evolutionary dead end or the ultimate evolution of a superbug," was honored as "Top Paper" at the prestigious Congress of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) in Vienna in April 2025. In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field, ESCMID has appointed Dr. Gupta as a Local Champion for Canada and awarded her a coveted travel grant to further her international engagement.
In October 2024, Dr. Gupta completed a state-of-the-art course at the Mayo Clinic to master cutting-edge technologies in mycology, which she is now actively implementing in her laboratory. She is building a specialized team, developing comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures, enhancing inhouse fungal diagnostics using proteomics for mold identification.
Dr. Gupta is particularly passionate about harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence and machine learning in microbiology laboratories. This interest directly informs her current development of an innovative slide scanner system designed to automate and optimize workflow processes in microbiology laboratories—a project that represents the intersection of traditional microbiology with advanced computational approaches.
Beyond her research accomplishments, Dr. Gupta has embraced service roles with enthusiasm, joining the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee. She is also a supervisor for undergraduate and graduate students and currently has 4 students doing projects under her. She was also selected for the 2025 cohort of the WE-Empower! Program through WORLDiscoveries®—an initiative that brings together innovative and entrepreneurial women to provide mentorship and training in entrepreneurship, research commercialization, and intellectual property protection.
Dr. Gupta's thought leadership extends to public health discourse, with her insightful editorial on the resurgent threat of measles in Canada featured prominently in both The Conversation and Western News, demonstrating her commitment to addressing pressing public health challenges.
