Microbial biofilms are ubiquitous in natural ecosystems as and are medically relevant due to their roles invasive pathogens. At the same time new directions in materials science demonstrate that biofilms can be used as natural catalytic material. For example, electrophilic biofilms in microbial fuel cells are being actively developed to both clean wastewater and generate electricity at the same time. To better understand the complex nature of biofilms, new methods are needed to study their physiochemical properties in well-controlled environments. In the first part of the talk, Professor Greener will demonstrate new methods developed in his laboratories that merge of microfluidics and analytical chemistry to help fuel a new wave of biofilm research. The highly controllable laminar flow and chemical environment, combined with applicability to measurements that are precise, passive and consecutive opens new opportunities, including collaborations with theorists. Presented will be results from new studies demonstrating control over biocatalysis and biofilm metabolic activity in electroactive biofilms as well as the formation of unreported structural features and tracking of biofilm mechanical properties in pseudo real-time.