Dr. Geary received his Ph.D. from The University of Connecticut in 1980 and was an NIH Postdoctoral Fellow in the department of Medical Microbiology at the University of Missouri School of Medicine. He is a Professor and former Department Head of Pathobiology & Veterinary Science. He was a 2008-2009 Jefferson Science Fellow, serving at the U. S. Department of State in the Arms Control Bureau, Office of Biological Weapons Affairs. Over the years he has received funding for his research from the NIH, USDA, NSF, DHS, BSF, DTRA, and corporate sponsors.

His Current Research profile involves investigations into:

Comparative genomic and transcriptomic analyses of pathogenic Mycoplasmas.

Cytadherence molecules and host cell receptors, as well as analysis of variably expressed surface lipoproteins and their roles in immune evasion.

Vaccine development and immunologic and genetic means of detection (DIVA tests) of these pathogens.

Host cell signatures that integrate into, or remain tightly associated with, Vaccinia virus (as a model for Variola, smallpox), and how they may be useful for attribution purposes in the event of a release of smallpox as a bioweapon.