Thomas M. Schmidt
| Thomas M. Schmidt | |
|---|---|
| Schmidt in 2024Thomas M. Schmidt.jpg Schmidt in 2024 | |
| Born | Thomas Mitchell Schmidt |
| 🎓 Alma mater | University of Michigan (BS) Ohio State University (MS, PhD) |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| Known for | Molecular identification of the Whipple's disease bacterium Research on gut microbiome dynamics and dietary influences |
| 🏅 Awards | Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology (2002) ASM Graduate Microbiology Teaching Award (2010) Highly Cited Researcher (Clarivate, 2019–2024) |
Thomas Mitchell Schmidt is an American microbiologist specializing in microbial ecology, physiology, and the human gut microbiome. He is recognized for co-identifying the uncultured bacterium responsible for Whipple's disease through 16S rRNA sequencing in 1992, a finding that revolutionized molecular diagnosis and phylogenetic placement of the pathogen as Tropheryma whipplei.[1][2] His current research explores the structure, function, and engineering of host-associated microbial communities, with emphasis on dietary modulation of gut microbiota and metabolites like butyrate.[3]
Schmidt is a professor at the University of Michigan with appointments in the Department of Internal Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases), Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.[4] He directs the university's Microbiome Core and co-leads the Host Microbiome Initiative.
As of 2026, his work has received over 55,000 citations with an h-index of 85.[5][6] He served as editor-in-chief of the fourth edition of the Encyclopedia of Microbiology (2019).[7]
Education and career
Schmidt earned a B.S. in biology from the University of Michigan in 1978. He received an M.S. in environmental biology (1981) and Ph.D. in microbiology (1985) from Ohio State University.[4]
He was an assistant professor at Miami University from 1990 to 1992, then joined Michigan State University as assistant professor (1992–1999), associate professor (1999–2002), and professor (2002–2012). He directed the Microbial Diversity Course at the Marine Biological Laboratory (2004–2008).[4]
Since 2013, he has been on the faculty at the University of Michigan.[4]
Research
Schmidt's 1992 collaboration used polymerase chain reaction amplification of 16S rRNA genes to detect and characterize the Whipple's disease agent, shifting diagnosis from histological methods to molecular techniques and confirming its placement in Actinobacteria.[1][2]
His laboratory studies microbiome dynamics, genome evolution, metabolic trade-offs in low-oxygen niches, and links between community composition and functions like greenhouse gas production in soils or health impacts in humans.[8]
He led Michigan's contribution to the 2016 National Microbiome Initiative through the Michigan Microbiome Project, examining dietary interventions to alter gut microbiome structure and function.[3]
Notable studies include the role of resistant starch in boosting butyrate via specific degraders,[9] and microbiome modulation in stem cell transplantation or colitis models.[10]
He holds patents for microbiome-related compositions, including butyrate enhancement methods.[11]
Honors and awards
- University-Wide Teacher-Scholar Award, Michigan State University (2000)
- Elected Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology (2002)
- Graduate Microbiology Teaching Award Laureate, American Society for Microbiology (2010)
- Highly Cited Researcher, Clarivate (Cross-Field, 2019–2024)
- Provost’s Teaching Innovation Prize, University of Michigan (2020)
Selected publications
- Relman, David A.; Schmidt, Thomas M.; MacDermott, Richard P.; Falkow, Stanley (1992). "Identification of the Uncultured Bacillus of Whipple's Disease". New England Journal of Medicine. 327 (5): 293–301. doi:10.1056/NEJM199207303270501. PMID 1377787.
- Baxter, Nielson T.; Schmidt, Alexander W.; Venkataraman, Arvind; Kim, Kwi S.; Waldron, Clive; Schmidt, Thomas M. (2019). "Dynamics of Human Gut Microbiota and Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Response to Dietary Interventions with Three Fermentable Fibers". mBio. 10 (1). Bibcode:2019mBio...1066.18B. doi:10.1128/mBio.02566-18. PMC 6355990. PMID 30696735. Unknown parameter
|article-number=ignored (help) - Sunderland, Elsie M.; Schartup, Amina T. (2016). "Biogeochemistry: Mercury methylation on ice". Nature Microbiology. 1 (10). doi:10.1038/nmicrobiol.2016.165. PMID 27670120. Unknown parameter
|article-number=ignored (help) - Campbell, Austin; Gdanetz, Kristi; Schmidt, Alexander W.; Schmidt, Thomas M. (2023). "H2 generated by fermentation in the human gut microbiome influences metabolism and competitive fitness of gut butyrate producers". Microbiome. 11 (1). doi:10.1186/s40168-023-01565-3. PMC 10268494 Check
|pmc=value (help). PMID 37322527 Check|pmid=value (help). Unknown parameter|article-number=ignored (help)
Personal life
Schmidt was a competitive runner in high school, contributing to Elyria Catholic's 1973 Ohio state cross country title and earning All-State honors in the mile at the 1974 state track meet (time: 4:24.6). The 1973–74 team was inducted into the Elyria Sports Hall of Fame in 1998. He competed on the University of Michigan track team.[12][13][14][15]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Relman, David A.; Schmidt, Thomas M.; MacDermott, Richard P.; Falkow, Stanley (July 30, 1992). "Identification of the uncultured bacillus of Whipple's disease". New England Journal of Medicine. 327 (5): 293–301. doi:10.1056/NEJM199207303270501. PMID 1377787.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Raoult, Didier; Birg, Marie-Laure; La Scola, Bernard; Fournier, Pierre-Edouard; Enea, Maria; Lepidi, Hubert; Roux, Valérie; Piette, Jean-Charles; Vandenesch, François; Vital-Durand, Denis; Marrie, Thomas J. (July 2001). "Whipple's Disease and "Tropheryma whippelii"". Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 14 (3): 561–583. doi:10.1128/CMR.14.3.561-583.2001. PMC 88990. PMID 11432813.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "U-M joins new National Microbiome Initiative". University of Michigan News. May 13, 2016. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Thomas Schmidt, PhD". University of Michigan Medical School. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
- ↑ "Thomas M. Schmidt". Google Scholar. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
- ↑ "Thomas M. Schmidt: Biology and Biochemistry Researcher – H-Index, Publications & Awards". Research.com. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
- ↑ Schmidt, Thomas M., ed. (2019). Encyclopedia of Microbiology (4th ed.). Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-12-811736-1. Search this book on
- ↑ Speaker Biographies - The Social Biology of Microbial Communities: Workshop Summary. National Academies Press. 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2026. Search this book on
- ↑ Baxter, Nathan T.; Schmidt, Andrew W.; Venkataraman, Arjun; Kim, Kyung S.; Waldron, Christopher; Schmidt, Thomas M. (January–February 2019). "Dynamics of human gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids in response to dietary interventions with three fermentable fibers". mBio. 10 (1): e02566–18. Bibcode:2019mBio...1066.18B. doi:10.1128/mBio.02566-18. PMC 6351733. PMID 30670604.
- ↑ Riwes, Mary M. (November 2023). "Feasibility of a dietary intervention to modify gut microbial metabolism in patients with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation". Nature Medicine. 29 (11): 2805–2813. doi:10.1038/s41591-023-02587-y. PMC 10667101 Check
|pmc=value (help). PMID 37857710 Check|pmid=value (help). - ↑ "Compositions and methods for increasing butyrate production". Google Patents. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
- ↑ "1973 OHSAA State Cross Country Championships Results". MileSplit Ohio. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
- ↑ "Elyria Sports Hall of Fame – 1990s Inductees". Elyria Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
- ↑ "1974 OHSAA State Track and Field Results" (PDF). Ohio High School Athletic Association. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
- ↑ "1975 University of Michigan Men's Track Team". Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
External links
- Faculty profile, University of Michigan Medical School
- Faculty profile, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan
- Google Scholar profile
Category:American microbiologists
Category:University of Michigan faculty
Category:Michigan State University faculty
Category:Ohio State University alumni
Category:Living people
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
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