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Emily R Schmeltzer, PhD

Emily is a Biologist with the Eastern Ecological Science Center at Patuxent Wildlife Research Refuge in Laurel, MD. Emily uses metagenomics and bioinformatic tools to research microbial ecology, specifically the roles of viruses and bacteria in response to increasing anthropogenic stressors in marine and terrestrial environments.

Emily's uses many novel "omics" methods and bioinformatic tools to explore the viromes and microbiomes of animal holobionts in collaborative field studies. Current projects focus on disease vector potential and microbial holobiont characterization of both ticks and migratory/nuisance/subsistence bird species, as well as microbiome dysbiosis and microbial disease phenotypes in coral reef ecosystems. Emily especially enjoys interdisciplinary research and frequently works on projects with fieldwork, laboratory, and bioinformatic components to answer broad-reaching questions.

Professional Experience

  • Graduate Research Assistant, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR. September 2018 to September 2023. Doctoral research investigating viral communities in coral microbiomes across reefscapes and seasonal nutrient gradients in Mo'orea, French Polynesia.

  • Steering Committee graduate student member, Coral Bleaching Research Coordination Network (CBRCN). 2019 to 2022. Helped to develop common frameworks for future coral bleaching research and foster collaboration and transdisciplinary teams. 
    Assisted workshop leader, virtual meeting 2020. Chaired Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion roundtable discussions, in-person event in Bremen, Germany 2022

  • Faculty Research Associate, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR. January 2017 to September 2018. Team Lead for Moorea Virus Project: laboratory management, training graduate students/visiting researchers, fieldwork technician (scuba diving, sample collection and processing leader), laboratory technician, bioinformatic analysis.

  • Graduate Research Assistant, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, CA. August 2013 to December 2016. Thesis research on coral microbial communities and microbiome sharing between corals and corallivorous gastropod snails.

  • Graduate Research Assistant, Tetiaroa Society Ecostation: Motu Onetahi, Tetiaroa, French Polynesia - Summer 2015 ; Indonesian Biodiversity Research Center, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia - Summer 2013. Processing, retrieval, and deployment of Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) Smithsonian Institution.

  • Museum Technician, Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico. August 2011 to May 2013. Specimen identification, database technician, specimen preparation for museum installation and archiving (Arthropod & Mammal Divisions).

  • Undergraduate Research Assistant, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico. August 2012 to May 2013. Investigated factors in mosquito feeding preference in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, with implications for disease transmission and control.

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D. in Microbiology w/minor in Biological Data Sciences - Oregon State University

  • M.S. in Marine Science - Moss Landing Marine Laboratories / California State University Monterey Bay 

  • B.S. in Biology - University of New Mexico

  • B.A. in Spanish - University of New Mexico

Science and Products

Non-USGS Publications**

Vompe A, Epstein HE, Speare K, Schmeltzer ER, Adam T, Burkepile D, Sharpton TJ, Vega Thurber RL. (2024). Microbiome ecological memory and responses to repeated marine heatwaves clarify variation in coral bleaching and mortality. Global Change Biology, 30(1), e17088. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.17088
Howe-Kerr LI, Grupstra CGB, Rabbitt K, Conetta D, Coy SR, Klinges JG, Maher RL, McConnell KM, Meiling SS, Messyasz A, Schmeltzer ER, Seabrook S, Sims J, Veglia AJ, Thurber AR, Vega Thurber RL, Correa AMS. (2023). Viruses of a key coral symbiont exhibit temperature-driven productivity across a reefscape. ISME Communications, 3(1), 27. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43705-023-00227-7
Vega Thurber RL, Schmeltzer ER, Grottoli AG, van Woesik R, Toonen R, Warner ME, Dobson KL, McLachlan RH, Barott KL, Barshis DJ, Baumann JH, Chapron L, Combosch DJ, Correa AMS, DeCarlo TM, Hagedorn M, Hedouin L, Hoadley KD, Felis T, Ferrier-Pages C, Kenkel CD, Kuffner IB, Matthews JL, Medina M, Meyer CP, Oster C, Price JT, Putnam HM, Sawall Y (2022). Unified methods in collecting, preserving, and archiving coral bleaching and restoration specimens to increase sample utility and interdisciplinary collaboration. PeerJ, 10, e14176. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14176
Shantz A, Ladd M, Ezzat L, Schmitt R, Holbrook S, Schmeltzer ER, Vega Thurber R, Burkepile D (2022). Positive interactions between corals and damselfish increase coral resistance to temperature stress. Global Change Biology, 29(2), 417-431. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16480
McLachlan RH, Dobson KL, Schmeltzer ER, Vega Thurber R, Grottoli AG (2021). A review of coral bleaching specimen collection, preservation, and laboratory processing methods. PeerJ 9:e11763. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11763
Gaulke CA*, Schmeltzer ER*, Dasenko M, Tyler BM, Vega Thurber RL, Sharpton TJ (2021). Evaluation of the effects of library preparation procedure and sample characteristics on the accuracy of metagenomic profiles. mSystems 6(5):e00440-21. doi: 10.1128/mSystems.00440-21
Ezzat L, Merolla S, Clements CS, Munsterman KS, Landfield K, Stensrud CD, Schmeltzer ER, Burkepile DE, Vega Thurber RL (2021). Thermal stress interacts with surgeonfish feces to increase coral susceptibility to dysbiosis and reduce tissue regeneration. Frontiers in Microbiology 12: 608. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.620458
Maher RL, Schmeltzer ER, Meiling S, McMinds R, Ezzat L, Shantz AA, Adam TC, Schmitt RJ, Holbrook SJ, Burkepile DE, Vega Thurber RL (2020). Coral microbiomes demonstrate flexibility and resilience through a reduction in community diversity following a thermal stress event. Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution 8: 356. DOI:10.3389/fevo.2020.555698
Ezzat L, Lamy T, Maher RL, Munsterman KS, Landfield KM, Schmeltzer ER, Clements CS, Vega Thurber RL, Burkepile DE (2020). Parrotfish predation drives distinct microbial communities in reef-building corals. Animal Microbiome 2: 5. DOI: 10.1186/s42523-020-0024-0
Ezzat L, Lamy T, Maher RL, Munsterman KS, Landfield K, Schmeltzer ER, Gaulke CA, Burkepile DE, Vega Thurber R (2019). Surgeonfish feces increase microbial opportunism in reef-building corals. Marine Ecology Progress Series 631: 81–97. DOI:10.3354/meps13119

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

Science and Products

Non-USGS Publications**

Vompe A, Epstein HE, Speare K, Schmeltzer ER, Adam T, Burkepile D, Sharpton TJ, Vega Thurber RL. (2024). Microbiome ecological memory and responses to repeated marine heatwaves clarify variation in coral bleaching and mortality. Global Change Biology, 30(1), e17088. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.17088
Howe-Kerr LI, Grupstra CGB, Rabbitt K, Conetta D, Coy SR, Klinges JG, Maher RL, McConnell KM, Meiling SS, Messyasz A, Schmeltzer ER, Seabrook S, Sims J, Veglia AJ, Thurber AR, Vega Thurber RL, Correa AMS. (2023). Viruses of a key coral symbiont exhibit temperature-driven productivity across a reefscape. ISME Communications, 3(1), 27. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43705-023-00227-7
Vega Thurber RL, Schmeltzer ER, Grottoli AG, van Woesik R, Toonen R, Warner ME, Dobson KL, McLachlan RH, Barott KL, Barshis DJ, Baumann JH, Chapron L, Combosch DJ, Correa AMS, DeCarlo TM, Hagedorn M, Hedouin L, Hoadley KD, Felis T, Ferrier-Pages C, Kenkel CD, Kuffner IB, Matthews JL, Medina M, Meyer CP, Oster C, Price JT, Putnam HM, Sawall Y (2022). Unified methods in collecting, preserving, and archiving coral bleaching and restoration specimens to increase sample utility and interdisciplinary collaboration. PeerJ, 10, e14176. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14176
Shantz A, Ladd M, Ezzat L, Schmitt R, Holbrook S, Schmeltzer ER, Vega Thurber R, Burkepile D (2022). Positive interactions between corals and damselfish increase coral resistance to temperature stress. Global Change Biology, 29(2), 417-431. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16480
McLachlan RH, Dobson KL, Schmeltzer ER, Vega Thurber R, Grottoli AG (2021). A review of coral bleaching specimen collection, preservation, and laboratory processing methods. PeerJ 9:e11763. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11763
Gaulke CA*, Schmeltzer ER*, Dasenko M, Tyler BM, Vega Thurber RL, Sharpton TJ (2021). Evaluation of the effects of library preparation procedure and sample characteristics on the accuracy of metagenomic profiles. mSystems 6(5):e00440-21. doi: 10.1128/mSystems.00440-21
Ezzat L, Merolla S, Clements CS, Munsterman KS, Landfield K, Stensrud CD, Schmeltzer ER, Burkepile DE, Vega Thurber RL (2021). Thermal stress interacts with surgeonfish feces to increase coral susceptibility to dysbiosis and reduce tissue regeneration. Frontiers in Microbiology 12: 608. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.620458
Maher RL, Schmeltzer ER, Meiling S, McMinds R, Ezzat L, Shantz AA, Adam TC, Schmitt RJ, Holbrook SJ, Burkepile DE, Vega Thurber RL (2020). Coral microbiomes demonstrate flexibility and resilience through a reduction in community diversity following a thermal stress event. Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution 8: 356. DOI:10.3389/fevo.2020.555698
Ezzat L, Lamy T, Maher RL, Munsterman KS, Landfield KM, Schmeltzer ER, Clements CS, Vega Thurber RL, Burkepile DE (2020). Parrotfish predation drives distinct microbial communities in reef-building corals. Animal Microbiome 2: 5. DOI: 10.1186/s42523-020-0024-0
Ezzat L, Lamy T, Maher RL, Munsterman KS, Landfield K, Schmeltzer ER, Gaulke CA, Burkepile DE, Vega Thurber R (2019). Surgeonfish feces increase microbial opportunism in reef-building corals. Marine Ecology Progress Series 631: 81–97. DOI:10.3354/meps13119

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.