D. John Faulkner Lab; CV of Eric Schmidt

ERIC W. SCHMIDT

Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California at San Diego, 0208, La Jolla, CA 92093-0208

h: (619) 552-7809 w: (619) 534-2348 - eschmidt@ucsd.edu

EDUCATION

1994-present:	Ph.D. program in Oceanography, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego. Professor D. John Faulkner, thesis advisor. Projected graduation date: December, 1998.
1990-94:	B.S. in Chemistry with a minor in Literature, University of California, San Diego.

SKILLS

Major Field of Study: Marine natural products: Isolation of novel, bioactive compounds and structure elucidation by spectroscopy (NMR, UV, IR, MS) and chemical degradation. Stereochemical determination by chemical transformations and GC-MS.

Secondary Field of Study: Molecular biology of marine sponge symbionts.

Projects Completed: Structural and absolute stereochemical solution of a new sesterterpene⁵, alkaloids⁶, and of novel peptides ^1-3, ^A,^C, including conformational analysis². Determination of absolute configuration of a known acetogenin of unusual structure⁴. Dereplication of a large number of known bioactive marine natural products. 16S rRNA analysis of a symbiotic microorganism known to produce biologically active metabolites in a marine sponge (in prep).

Analytical Chemistry: In charge of upkeep, experiments, and training on a Varian Inova 300 MHz NMR with a z-gradient indirect-detection probe. Proficient at running and interpreting modern one- and two-dimensional NMR experiments. Run mass spectrometers, including EI/CI DIP and GC-MS, ESI and MSn, and ICPMS and interpret resulting data. Employ and analyze results of UV, IR, optical rotation, and circular dichroism experiments. Use flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. Organic separation techniques, including TLC, solvent extraction, flash column, Sep Pak, and HPLC.

Molecular Biology: Gel electrophoresis (agarose and polyacrylamide DGGE), PCR, sequencing, cloning, cell culture, in situ hybridization, RFLP, use of molecular biology databases.

Synthetic Transformations: Completed a six-step reaction sequence to determine stereochemistry using symmetry arguments and working on a 7-step modified amino acid synthesis. Hydrolysis and derivatization of peptides, methylation, ozonolysis, periodate cleavage, hydrazinolysis, and formation of Mosher esters and other analogs for stereochemical determination.

Field Work: Participated in 5 trips to the tropical Pacific for the collection and study of marine invertebrates by SCUBA and snorkeling. Diver in numerous underwater studies in the San Diego area.

Communication: Primary author of six scientific papers. Written a column about research in our laboratory for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Training of undergraduates, graduate students, and post-docs in 2-D NMR methods. Delivered 10 graduate seminars. As an undergraduate: editor in chief and other editorial positions for 4 years, The UCSD Guardian.

AWARDS, HONORS, SOCIETIES

1995-1998: Sea Grant Trainee

1996-present: Member, American Chemical Society

1995-96: Member, American Association for the Advancement of Science

1995-96: Whole Earth Society research grant award

1994-95: University of California, San Diego Research Assistantship

1990-94: National Merit Scholar. Regents Scholar, University of California, San Diego

PUBLICATIONS

1. Schmidt, E.W.; Faulkner, D.J. Microsclerodermins C-E, antifungal cyclic peptides from the lithistid sponges Theonella sp. and Microscleroderma sp. Tetrahedron, 1998, 54, 3043-3056.

2. Schmidt, E.W.; Bewley, C.A.; Faulkner, D.J. Theopalauamide, a bicyclic glycopeptide from filamentous bacterial symbionts of the lithistid sponge Theonella swinhoei from Palau and Mozambique. J. Org. Chem. 1998, 63, 1254-1258.

3. Schmidt, E.W.; Harper, M.K.; Faulkner, D.J. Mozamides A and B, cyclic peptides from a Theonellid sponge from Mozambique. J. Nat. Prod. 1997, 60, 779-782.

4. Schmidt, E.W.; Faulkner, D.J. Absolute configuration of methyl (2Z,6R,8R,9E)-3,6-epoxy-4,6,8-triethyl-2,4,9-dodecatrienoate from the sponge Plakortis halichondrioides. Tetrahedron Letts. 1996, 37, 6681-6684.

5. Schmidt, E.W.; Faulkner, D.J. Palauolol, a new anti-inflammatory sesterterpene from the sponge Fascaplysinopsis sp. from Palau. Tetrahedron Letts. 1996, 37, 3951-3954.

6. Schmidt, E.W.; Harper, M.K.; Faulkner, D.J. Makaluvamines H-M and damirone C from the Pohnpeian sponge Zyzzya fuliginosa. J. Nat. Prod. 1995, 58, 1861-1867.

CONFERENCES

A. Schmidt, E.W.; Faulkner, D.J. New cytotoxic peptides and chemotaxonomic data from lithistid sponges in the National Cancer Institute collection. 9th International Symposium on Marine Natural Products, Townsville, Australia, July 5-10, 1998. Poster

B. Faulkner, D.J.; Bewley, C.A.; Harper, M.K.; Salomon, C.E.; Schmidt, E.W.; Unson, M.D. Production of bioactive marine metabolites by symbiotic microorganisms in marine sponges. 5th International Porifera Congress, Brisbane, Australia, June 28-July 4, 1998. Oral

C. Schmidt, E.W.; Faulkner, D.J. Microsclerodermins C-E, antifungal cyclic peptides from the lithistid sponges Theonella sp. and Microscleroderma sp. Gordon Research Conference on Marine Natural Products, Ventura, California, February 22-27, 1998. Poster

REFEREES

Dr. D. John Faulkner, Professor of Marine Chemistry, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD.

Dr. William H. Fenical, Professor of Marine Chemistry, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD.

Dr. Margo G. Haygood, Professor of Marine Biology, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD.

Dr. David J. Newman, Natural Products Division, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.

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