John R. Schwarz
Regents and Senior Professor
Professor Emeritus
Department of Marine Biology
E-mail: schwarzj@tamug.edu
Phone: +1 (409) 740.4453
Fax: +1 (409) 740.5001
Website
CV
Learn more about John R. Schwarz
- Get To Know
John R. Schwarz
What in your life drew you to your current field of study?
The desire to work in the marine environment. The ocean has always intrigued me as an area that I wished to study.
What do you hope your students gain from studying or working with you?
The ability to be self-motivated, to work hard toward a goal and to never give up. To not try is to fail.
What are you passionate about in your personal life?
I have always been passionate about finishing whatever project I start.
- Expertise
All aspects of seafood micro-biology. Association of bacterial pathogens with shellfish and devising experimental methodologies to provide the consumer with a safer food product. - Education
Ph.D. Molecular Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1972
B.S. Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1967 - Publications
Cam, Sedat, R. Brinkmeyer and J.R. Schwarz. 2018. Quantitative PCR enumeration of vcgC and 16S rRNA type A/B genes as virulence indicators for environmental and clinical strains of Vibrio vulnificus in Galveston Bay oysters. Canadian J. Microbiol. In Press
Robin Brinkmeyer, Rainer M.W. Amon, John R. Schwarz, Tara Saxton, Dustin Roberts, Sarah Harrison, Nicholas Ellis, Jessica Fox, Renée DiGuardi, Mona Hochman, Shuiwang Duan, Ron Stein, and Catherine Elliot. 2015. Distribution and Persistence of Escherichia coli and Enterococci in Stream Bed and Bank Sediments from two Urban Streams in Houston, TX. Science of the Total Environment. 502: 650-658.
Baumeister, L, Hochman, M.E., Schwarz, J.R., and R.Brinkmeyer. 2014. Occurrence of Vibrio vulnificus and Toxigenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus on Sea Catfishes from Galveston Bay, TX, USA. J. Food Protection. In Review.
Walton, W.C., Nelson, C., Hochman, M. and J.R. Schwarz. 2013. Preliminary Study of Transplanting as a Process for Reducing Levels of Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Shellstock Oysters. J. Food Protection. 76(1) 119-123
Lin, M., D. Payne and J.R. Schwarz. 2003. Genetic Diversity of Vibrio vulnificus in Galveston Bay Oysters and Water as Determined by RAPD PCR. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69 (6): 3170-3175.
Lin, M. and J.R. Schwarz. 2003. Partial 16s rDNA Sequencing of Vibrio vulnificus isolates from Galveston Bay Oysters and Water. FEMS Microbiol Ecol.45: 23-27. Schwarz, J.R. TAMUG page 2
Vanoy, R.W. and J.R. Schwarz. 2001. Survival of Vibrio vulnificus in Crassostrea virginicus after One Year of Simulated Winter Conditions. Report to the Natural Resources Committee of the Texas Legislature and Texas Department of Health. 10 pp.
Schwarz, J. R., R. Bielby, S. Burkett, J. DiGialleanardo, C. Fallin, D. Hochman, M. Lin, J. McAuliffe, M. Schweighofer, R.W. Vanoy and L. Wolfe. 2000. Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus: Distribution and Population Densities of Pathogenic and Non-pathogenic Strains. J. Seafood Science and Technol. 25: 10 pp.
Schwarz, J.R., C. Fallin and R.W. Vanoy. 1994. Occurrence of Vibrio vulnificus in Galveston Bay Oysters. In : M.L. Tamplin, ed. The Seasonal Occurrence of Vibrio vulnificus in Shellfish, Seawater and Sediment of United States Coastal Waters: the Influence of Environmental Factors on Survival and Virulence. pp. 23-32.
Vanoy, R.W., M. L. Tamplin and J.R. Schwarz. 1992. Ecology of Vibrio vulnificus in Galveston Bay oysters, suspended particulate matter and seawater: detection by monoclonal antibody-immunoassay-most probable number procedures. J. Indust. Microbiol. 9: 219-223.
- Grants and Fellowships
Funded Research Projects
September 2017 - August 2019: Texas Department of State Health Services, Principal Investigator. HB 1903.Study and Analysis of Texas Oysters. $140,319.
September 2015 - August 2017: Texas Department of State Health Services, Principal Investigator. HB 1903.Study and Analysis of Texas Oysters. $200,000.
September 2013 - August 2015: Texas Department of State Health Services, Principal Investigator. HB 1903.Study and Analysis of Texas Oysters. $200,000.
September 2012 - August 2013: Texas Department of State Health Services, Principal Investigator. Studies of Vibrio spp. In Texas Oysters. $ 80,000.
October 2011 - April 2012: Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Commission, Principal Investigator. Effects of Increased Salinity on Oyster Vibrio Populations. $19,000.
June 2007 - August 2010: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Co-PI. Survival and Potential Growth of Escherichia and Enterococcus spp. in Texas Bays and Tributary Waters. $ 1,359,000.
- Awards & Recognition
2012: Regents Professor Designation, The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents
2012: Distinguished Achievement Teaching Award – University Level, The Association of Former Students of Texas A&M University
2011: TAMUS Chancellor’s Student Led Assessment of Teaching Excellence Award
2010: TAMUS Chancellor’s Student Led Assessment of Teaching Excellence Award
2009: TAMUS Chancellor’s Student Led Assessment of Teaching Excellence Award
2006: William P. Ricker Distinguished Faculty Award, Texas A&M University at Galveston
2002 - 2003: Distinguished Achievement Teaching Award- College Level, The Association of Former Students of Texas A&M University
- Professional Appointments
2001 - Present: Member, State of Texas Department of Health Vibrio vulnificus Control Plan Committee
2001 - Present: Member, Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference, Gene-Probe Committee, Technical Representative
2001 – Present: Member, Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference, Laboratory Methods Committee
2001 – 2016: Member, Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference, Research Guidance Committee
- Graduate Students
Advisor and Committee Chair for 12 MARB IDP Non-thesis option MS students