Thomas M. Schmidt
Comment: I think we need to have some shared understanding on editor responsibilities before we go much further on this. ChrysGalley (talk) 16:58, 22 February 2026 (UTC)
- Comment: In accordance with Wikipedia's Conflict of interest guideline, I disclose that I have a conflict of interest regarding the subject of this article. ThomasMitchellSchmidt (talk) 08:55, 22 February 2026 (UTC)
| Thomas M. Schmidt | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| Known for | Molecular identification of the causative agent of Whipple's disease |
| 🏅 Awards | Teacher-Scholar Award, Michigan State University (1999) Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology (2002) ASM Graduate Microbiology Teaching Award (2010) Provost’s Teaching Innovation Prize, University of Michigan (2020) |
Thomas M. Schmidt (also known as Thomas Mitchell Schmidt) is an American microbiologist. He is a professor at the University of Michigan with appointments in internal medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases), microbiology and immunology, and ecology and evolutionary biology.[1] His research has addressed microbial community structure and function, including early application of 16S rRNA gene sequencing to identify uncultured pathogens and later work on the human microbiome and short-chain fatty acid production.
In 1992, Schmidt and collaborators used polymerase chain reaction amplification of bacterial 16S rRNA genes from tissue samples to identify the previously uncultured bacillus associated with Whipple's disease, placing it within the Actinomycetota and supporting subsequent molecular diagnostics; the organism was later named Tropheryma whipplei.[2][3] The paper is widely cited in medical and microbiological literature on the disease.[2][3]
Schmidt's later work has examined dietary influences on gut microbial composition and metabolite production (including butyrate), microbial ecology in low-oxygen environments, and related health outcomes.[4][5]
According to Google Scholar, his publications have received tens of thousands of citations; independent rankings list a D-index in the mid-80s range with over 50,000 citations in biology and biochemistry.[6][7] He has served as editor-in-chief of the fourth edition of the Encyclopedia of Microbiology (2019).[8]
Education and career
Schmidt received a B.S. in biology from the University of Michigan in 1978, an M.S. in environmental biology in 1981, and a Ph.D. in microbiology in 1985 from Ohio State University.[1][9] He held postdoctoral positions at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (1985-1987) and Indiana University (1987-1990).[9]
He was an assistant professor at Miami University (1990-1992), then joined Michigan State University as assistant professor (1992-1999), associate professor (1999-2002), and professor (2002-2012).[9] He directed the Microbial Diversity Course at the Marine Biological Laboratory (circa 2003-2008 period).[9][10] Since 2013/2014 he has been on the faculty at the University of Michigan, where he has participated in the Host Microbiome Initiative and related efforts.[1][9][11]
Recognition
- Teacher-Scholar Award, Michigan State University (1999; college and university-wide)[9][12]
- Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology (2002)[9][10]
- ASM Graduate Microbiology Teaching Award (2010)[9][13]
- Provost’s Teaching Innovation Prize, University of Michigan (2020), for development of an authentic-research introductory biology laboratory course focused on the gut microbiome[14]
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): e02566–18. doi:10.1128/mBio.02566-18. PMC 6355990. PMID 30696735.
- 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): 133. doi:10.1186/s40168-023-01565-3. PMC 10268494 Check
|pmc=value (help). PMID 37322527 Check|pmid=value (help).
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Thomas Schmidt, PhD". University of Michigan Medical School. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 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.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 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.
- ↑ Baxter, Nielson T.; Schmidt, Alexander W.; Venkataraman, Arvind; Kim, Kwi S.; Waldron, Clive; Schmidt, Thomas M. (29 January 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. doi:10.1128/mBio.02566-18. PMC 6355990. PMID 30696735.
- ↑ 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): 133. doi:10.1186/s40168-023-01565-3. PMC 10268494 Check
|pmc=value (help). PMID 37322527 Check|pmid=value (help). - ↑ "Thomas M. Schmidt". Google Scholar. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Thomas M. Schmidt". Research.com. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
- ↑ Schmidt, Thomas M., ed. (2019). Encyclopedia of Microbiology (4th ed.). Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-12-811736-1. Search this book on
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 "Curriculum Vitae: Thomas Mitchell Schmidt" (PDF). University of Michigan. March 20, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Speaker Biographies - The Social Biology of Microbial Communities: Workshop Summary. National Academies Press. 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2026. Search this book on
- ↑ "U-M joins new National Microbiome Initiative". University of Michigan News. May 13, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Cumulative List of Teacher-Scholar Award Recipients". Michigan State University Office of the Provost. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Thomas M. Schmidt". Research.com. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Schmidt awarded Provost's Teaching Innovation Prize". University of Michigan Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. May 7, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 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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