Department of Biology

Website: http://www.appstate.edu/~brauersl

Education:

• Ph.D. Cornell University

Professional Experience:

• 2008-Present; Professor; Department of Biology; Appalachian State University; Boone, NC
• 2007-2008; Senior Research Associate; Oregon Health & Science University; Portland, OR
• 2006-2007; Postdoctoral Fellow; Oregon Health & Science University; Portland, OR
• 2001-2006; Research Assistant; Cornell University; Ithaca, NY

Teaching Specialties:

• Introductory microbiology
• Microbial ecology and diversity
• Environmental microbiology
• Biogeochemistry
• Biomolecular evolution of the Earth
• Geomicrobiology
• Microbial oceanography

Areas of Expertise:

• Microbiological culturing
• Biogeochemistry of C and Mn
• Molecular microbial ecology

Professional Affiliations / Organizations:

• American Society for Microbiology (local and national chapters)
• Society of Wetland Scientists
• Cornell University Program in Biogeochemistry and Environmental Biocomplexity
• American Geophysical Union
• NSF's Center for Coastal Margin Observation and Prediction (OHSU)

Honors / Awards:

• Fulbright-Saastamoinen Foundation Award in Health & Environmental Science, 2015 & 2021
• National Science Foundation, MRI, Co-PI, 2020
• Cave Conservancy Foundation Grant, PI, 2019-2022
• GRAM Award, Appalachian State University, 2017-2019
• 100 Scholars Award, Appalachian State University, 2016
• Extraordinary Woman Leader in Speleology, Extraordinary Women Cavers Guidebook, 2015

Professional Activities:

• Scholarship Committee; Department of Biology; Appalachian State University; Boone, NC; 2008-present
• Seminar Committee; Center for Coastal Margin Observation and Prediction Seminar Series; Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU); Portland, OR; 2007-2008
• Admissions Committee; Department of Microbiology; Cornell University; Ithaca, NY; 2004
• Treasurer; Program in Biogeochemistry and Environmental Biocomplexity; Cornell University; Ithaca, NY; 2003-2004

Community Service and Volunteer Experience:

• Volunteer Instructor; Saturday Academy; Portland, OR; 2007-2008
• Volunteer Instructor; Hillsboro School District; Hillsboro, OR; 2007
• Outdoor Leader; Cornell Outdoor Education; Cornell University; Ithaca, NY; 2002-2006
• Master Composter; Cornell Cooperative Extension; Ithaca, NY; 2002-2005

Research:

I am broadly interested in the biogeochemistry, ecology and diversity of microorganisms in various environments, including rivers, coastal margins, wetlands/estuaries, deep-sea hydrothermal vents, and caves; and I am interested in studying the impact of these microorganisms on the biogeochemical cycling of Fe, Mn and C in the environment.

Selected Publications:

• Verbeke B, Lamit LJ, Lilleskov E, Chanton J, Hodgkins S, Basiliko N, Kane E, Andersen R, Artz R, Beneavides J, Benescoter, B, Borken W, Bragazza L, Brandt S, Bräuer SL, et. al. 2022. Latitude, elevation, and mean annual temperature predict peat organic matter chemistry at a global scale. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 36(2), e2021GB007057.

• Bear S, Seward J, Lamit LJ, Basiliko N, Moore T, Lilleskov E, Yavitt JB, Schadt C, Smith DS, Mclaughlin J, Mykytczuk N, Williams-Johnson S, Roulet NT, Harris L, Carson MA, Watmough S, and Bräuer SL. 2021. Beyond the usual suspects: methanogenic communities in eastern North American peatlands are also influenced by nickel and copper concentrations. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 368(21-24), fnab151.

• Bräuer SL, Siljanen H, Basiliko N and Zinder SH. 2020. Methanogenic archaea in peatlands. Invited review for thematic issue on C-1 metabolism in FEMS Microbiology Letters, fnaa172, https://doi.org/10.1093/femsle/fnaa172.

• Seward J, Carson MA, Lamit LJ, Basiliko N, Yavitt JB, Lilleskov E, Schadt C, Smith DS, Mclaughlin J, Mykytczuk N, Williams-Johnson S, Roulet NT, Moore T, Harris L, and Bräuer SL. 2020. Peatland microbial community composition is driven by a natural climate gradient. Microbial Ecology, 80(3):593-602. doi: 10.1007/s00248-020-01510-z.

• Carson M, Bräuer SL, and Basiliko N. 2019. Enrichment of peat yields novel methanogens: Approaches for obtaining uncultured organisms in the age of rapid sequencing. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, doi: 10.1093/femsec/fiz001.