Education
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Ph.D. in Microbiology, 2006
The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA. B.S. focusing in Environmental Chemistry, 2000
Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA. B.A. in Russian Literature, 1995

Research Experience
Professor, Department of Biology, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, 2019-present
Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, 2014-2019
Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, 2008-2014
Senior Research Associate, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR, 2007-2008
Postdoctoral Fellow, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 2006-2007
Research Assistant, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 2001-2006

Teaching Experience
Instructor, Advanced Microbiology, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, 2023-present
Instructor, Human and Global Microbial Diversity, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, 2011-present
Instructor, Microbiology, Appalachian State University (ASU), Boone, NC, 2010-present
Instructor, Microbiology Laboratory, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, 2008-present
Faculty, Biogeochemistry Seminar, Molecular and Culturing Methods of Microbial Ecology, and Methods in Microbial Biogeochemistry, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland, 2021
Faculty, Microbial Biogeochemistry I and Microbial Biogeochemistry II, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland, 2015
Faculty, Microbial Diversity Course, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, Summer 2011, 2012, and 2013
Instructor, Microbial Ecology Discussion Course, OHSU, Portland, OR, 2008
Co-Instructor, Environmental & Biomolecular History of the Earth, OHSU, Portland, OR, 2006-2007
Instructor, Microbiology Discussion Courses, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 2004 & 2006
Small Group Leader and TA, General Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 2001-2005
TA, Advanced Microbiology Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 2002

Grants and Awards
Cave Conservancy Foundation Grant ($4,156), Lead PI, 2019-2022
Fulbright-Saastamoinen Foundation Award in Health & Environmental Science, 2021
National Science Foundation, MRI ($56,458), Co-PI, 2020
Cave Research Foundation, Graduate Research Grant, 2019-2020
GRAM Award, Appalachian State University, 2017-2019
100 Scholars Award, Appalachian State University, 2016
Cave Research Foundation, Graduate Research Grant, 2015-2016
Geological Society of America, Graduate Student Award, 2015-2016
Fulbright-Saastamoinen Foundation Award in Health & Environmental Science, 2015
Extraordinary Woman Leader in Speleology, Extraordinary Women Cavers Guidebook, 2015
Appalachian Women Scientists' Seed & Research Infrastructure Support grants, Appalachian State University (ASU), 2014
Board of Trustees International Research Grant, ASU, 2014
Nominee for W. C. Strickland Outstanding Young Faculty Award, ASU, 2012
NC Space Grant's New Principal Investigators Award ($25,000), NCSU, 2011
GRAM Award, ASU, 2010-2012
University Research Council Grant, ASU, 2008 & 2010
External Scholars Grant, University College, Appalachian State University, 2008
NSF RIDGE 2000 Fellowship ($64,188), Ocean Sciences, NSF, 2007 & 2009
Environmental Research Grant, Center for the Environment, Cornell University (CU), 2005
Research Grant, NSF IGERT in Biogeochemistry and Environmental Biocomplexity, CU, 2005
Outstanding Teaching Assistant, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, CU, 2003
Research Fellowship, Program in Biogeochemistry and Environmental Change, CU, 2001

Peer-Reviewed Publications:
(Bräuer’s advisees or co-advisees are denoted by an asterisk*; Equal contribution to co-authorship is denoted by a dagger†)

38. Seward J*,  Bräuer SL, Beckett P, Roy-Léveillée P, Emilson E, Watmough S, and Basiliko N. 2023. Recovery of Smelter-Impacted Peat and Sphagnum Moss: A Microbial Perspective. Microbial Ecology, doi:10.1007/s00248-023-02289-5.

37. Watmough SA, Parkes SAG, Basiliko N, Lamit J, Lilleskov E, Andersen R, Benscoter B, Artz R, Borken W, Bragazza L, Brandt S, Bräuer SL, et al. 2022. Variation in carbon and nitrogen concentrations among peatland categories at the global scale. PLOS ONE, 17(11), p.e0275149.

36. 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, doi: 10.1029/2021GB007057.

35. 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.

34. 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

33. 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

32. 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.

31. Cloutier ML*, Carmichael SK, Carson MA*, Madritch MD and Bräuer SL. 2017. Carbon quantity and quality drives variation in cave microbial communities and regulates Mn(II) oxidation. Biogeochemistry, doi:10.1007/s10533-017-0343-8.

30. Harbison AB*, Price LE*, Flythe MD, and Bräuer SL. 2017. Micropepsis pineolensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a mildly acidophilic alphaproteobacterium isolated from a poor fen, and proposal of Micropepsales ord. nov. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, doi: 10.1099/ijsem.0.001681.

29. Browne P, Tamaki H, Kyrpides N, Woyke T, Goodwin L, Imachi H, Bräuer SL, Yavitt, JB, Liu WT, Zinder SH and Cadillo-Quiroz H. 2016. Genomic composition and dynamics among Methanomicrobiales predict adaptation to contrasting environments. The ISME Journal, doi:10.1038/ismej.2016.104.

28. Harbison AB, Carson MA, Lamit LJ, Basiliko N and Bräuer SL. 2016. A novel isolate and widespread abundance of the candidate alphaproteobacterial order (Ellin 329), in southern Appalachian peatlands. FEMS Letters 363:doi: 10.1093/femsle/fnw151.

27. Bräuer SL, Cadillo-Quiroz H, Kyrpides N, Woyke T, Goodwin L, Detter C, Podell S, Yavitt JB and Zinder SH. 2015. Genome of Methanoregula boonei 6A8 reveals adaptations to oligotrophic peatland environments. Microbiology-SGM 161:1572-1581.

26. Carmichael SK†, Zorn BT*†, Santelli CM, Roble LA, Carmichael MJ and Bräuer SL,. 2015. Nutrient input influences fungal community composition, function, and size and can stimulate Mn(II) oxidation in caves.  Environmental Microbiology Reports7(4):592-605, doi:10.1111/1758-2229.12291.

25. Bräuer SL, Vuono D*, Carmichael MJ*, Strom A*, Pepe-Ranney C, Rabinowitz E, Buckley DH and Zinder SH. 2014. Microbial sequencing analyses suggest the presence of a fecal veneer on indoor climbing wall holds.  Current Microbiology 69:681-689, doi:10.1007/s00284-014-0643.

24. Carmichael MJ, Bernhardt ES, Bräuer SL and Smith WK. 2014. The role of vegetation in methane flux to the atmosphere: should vegetation be included as a distinct category in the global methane budget? Biogeochemistry 119:1-24.

23. Cadillo-Quiroz H, Bräuer SL, Goodson N*, Yavitt JB and Zinder SH. 2014. Methanobacterium paludis sp. nov. and a novel strain of Methanobacterium lacus isolated from northern peatlands. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 64(5):1473-1480, doi: 10.1099/ijs.0.059964-0.

22. Hawkins AN*, Johnson KW and Bräuer SL. 2014. Southern Appalachian Peatlands Support High Archaeal Diversity.  Microbial Ecology 67(3):587-602.

21. Carmichael SK, Carmichael MJ*, Strom A*, Johnson KW, Roble LA Gao Y and Bräuer SL. 2013. Sustained anthropogenic impact in Carter Saltpeter Cave, Carter County, Tennessee and the potential effects on Mn cycling. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies 75(3):189-204, doi: 10.4311/2012MB026.

20. Bräuer SL, Kranzler K*, Goodson N*, Murphy D, Simon HM, Baptista AM, and Tebo BM. 2013. Dark carbon fixation in the Columbia River's esturarine turbidity maxima: molecular characterization of red-type cbbL genes and measurement of DIC uptake rates in response to added electron donors. Estuaries and Coasts 36(5):1073-1083.

19. Mothapo NV , Grossman JM, Sooksa-nguan T, Maul J, Bräuer SL, and Shi W. 2013. Cropping  history affects nodulation and symbiotic efficiency of distinct hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.) genotypes with resident soil rhizobia. Biology and Fertility of Soils 49(7):871-879.

18. Carmichael MJ*, Carmichael SK, Santelli C, Strom A*, and Bräuer SL. 2013. Environmentally relevant members of ferromanganese deposits in caves of the upper Tennessee River Basin. Geomicrobiology Journal 30(9): 779-800.

17. DeLorenzo S*, Bräuer SL, Edgmont CA, Herfort L, Tebo BM and Zuber PM. 2012. Ubiquitous dissolved inorganic carbon assimilation by marine bacteria in the Pacific Northwest coastal ocean as determined by stable isotope probing. PLoS ONE 7(10): e46695.

16. Sun C, Bräuer SL, Cadillo Quiroz H, Zinder SH, and Yavitt JB. 2012. Seasonal changes in methanogenesis and methanogenic community in three peatlands, New York State. Frontiers in Microbiology 3:81, doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2012.00081.

15. Johnson KW*, Carmichael MJ*, McDonald W*, Rose N*, Pitchford J, Windelspecht M, Karatan E and Bräuer SL. 2012. Increased abundance of Gallionella spp., Leptothrix spp. and total bacteria in response to enhanced Mn and Fe concentrations in a disturbed southern Appalachian high elevation riparian wetland. Geomicrobiology Journal 29:124–138.

    14. Sakai S, Ehara M, Tseng I-C, Yamaguchi T, Bräuer SL, Cadillo-Quiroz H, Zinder SH and Imachi H. 2011. Methanolinea mesophila, sp. nov., a hydrogenotrophic methanogen isolated from a rice field in Taiwan, and proposal of the new archaeal family Methanoregulaceae fam. nov. within the order Methanomicrobiales. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 62 (6):1389-95.

    13. Bräuer SL, Adams C*, Kranzler K*, Murphy D, Xu M*, Zuber P, Simon HM, Baptista AM and Tebo BM. 2011. Culturable Rhodobacter and Shewanella species are abundant in estuarine turbidity maxima of the Columbia River, Environmental Microbiology 13(3): 589–603.
    12. Bräuer SL, Cadillo Quiroz H, Ward RJ, Yavitt JB, and Zinder SH. 2011. Methanoregula boonei strain 6A8, gen. nov., sp. nov., an acidiphilic methanogen isolated from an acidic peat bog. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 61: 45-52.
    11. Popa R, Popa R, Mashall MJ, Nguyen H, Tebo, BM and Bräuer SL. 2009. Limitations and benefits of ARISA intra-genomic diversity fingerprinting, Journal of Microbiological Methods 78 (2):111-118.
    10. Anderson CR, Chu M-L, Davis RE, Dick GJ, Cho J-C, Bräuer SL and Tebo BM. 2009. Aurantimonas manganoxydans, sp. nov. and Aurantimonas litoralis, sp. nov.: Mn(II)-oxidizing representatives of a globally distributed clade of alpha-Proteobacteria from the order Rhizobiales. Geomicrobiology Journal 26:189-198.
    9. Bräuer SL, Yashiro E, Ueno N*, Yavitt JB and Zinder SH. 2006. Characterization of acid-tolerant H2/CO2-utilizing methanogenic enrichment cultures from an acidic peat bog. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 57(2):206-216.
    8. Bräuer SL, Yashiro E, Cadillo Quiroz H, Yavitt JB and Zinder SH. 2006. Isolation of a novel acidiphilic methanogen from an acidic peat bog. Nature 442:192-194.
    7. Cadillo Quiroz H, Bräuer SL, Yashiro E, Sun C*, Yavitt JB and Zinder SH. 2006. Vertical profiles of methanogens in two contrasting acidic peatlands in central New York State, USA. Environmental Microbiology 8(8):1428-1440.
    6. Bräuer SL, Yavitt JB and Zinder SH. 2004. Methanogenesis in McLean Bog, an acidic peat bog in upstate New York: stimulation by H2/CO2 in the presence of rifampicin, or by low concentrations of acetate. Geomicrobiology Journal 21(7):433-443.

Invited Book Chapters:

5. Bräuer SL, Harbison AB, and Ueki A. 2018. Micropepsales. In Whitman WB (ed.), Bergey's Manual of Systematics of Archaea and Bacteria. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., in association with Bergey's Manual Trust, ISBN: 978-1-118-96060-8.

4. Bräuer SL, Harbison AB, and Ueki A. 2018. Micropepsacea. In Whitman WB (ed.), Bergey's Manual of Systematics of Archaea and Bacteria. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., in association with Bergey's Manual Trust, ISBN: 978-1-118-96060-8.

3. Bräuer SL, and Harbison AB. 2018. Micropepsis. In Whitman WB (ed.), Bergey's Manual of Systematics of Archaea and Bacteria. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., in association with Bergey's Manual Trust, ISBN: 978-1-118-96060-8.

2. Zinder SH and Bräuer SL. 2016. Methanoregula. In Whitman WB (ed.), Bergey's Manual of Systematics of Archaea and Bacteria. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., in association with Bergey's Manual Trust, ISBN: 978-1-118-96060-8.

1. Carmichael SK and Bräuer SL. 2015. Microbial diversity and manganese cycling: a review of Mn(II)-oxidizing microbial cave communities. In Engel AS (ed.), Microbial Live of Cave Systems. De Gruyter, Berlin, pp. 137-160, ISBN: 978-3-11-033499-9.

Select Invited Lectures

    Bräuer SL. 2021. Methane-Cycling Archaea in Peat-Forming Wetlands, Fulbright Forum in Environmental and Biological Sciences, Helsinki, Finland (April 22, 2021).

    Bräuer SL. 2018. Flipping the switch: Peatland warming triggers accelerated carbon degradation, altered methane dynamics, and reverse ecological succession, Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Asheville, NC (April 26, 2018).

    Bräuer SL. 2016. Flipping the switch: Peatland warming triggers accelerated carbon degradation, altered methane dynamics, and reverse ecological succession, Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN. (November 21, 2016).
    Bräuer SL. 2012. Microbial Biogeochemical Cycling of Manganese. The Regional American Society of Microbiology's NC Invitational Speaker, Research Triangle Park, Raleigh, NC. (October 6, 2012).

High School Students Advised
Marlie Shelton, Culturing Mn(II) oxidizers 2010-2012

Undergraduates Advised
Mitch Donadieu, Culturing Mn(II) oxidizers in Linville Caverns show cave, 2021-2022
Alec Armstrong, Biogeochemistry in caves, 2020-2021
Jake Fragakis, Culturing novel microbes from caves and peat, 2019-2020
Daniel Yu, Culturing novel microbes from caves and peat-fed fuel cells, 2018-2020
Huc Eban, Anaerobic culturing from peat-fed fuel cells, 2018-2020
Sydney Bear, Culturing Mn-oxidizers, 2016-2018
Aly Edwards, Culturing novel pectino-trophs, 2016-2018
Tony Perez, Culturing novel xylano-trophs, 2016-2018
Rebekah Lunan, Impact of Moringa on mouse microbiomes, 2016-2018
Allie Fulp, Impact of Moringa on mouse microbiomes, 2016-2018
Sydney Richardson, Testing anti-microbial coatings on climbing holds 2016-2018
Samantha Burris, Testing anti-microbial coatings on climbing holds 2016-2017
Christian Fullenweider, Extracting DNA from mouse pellets, 2016-2017
Nikki Hoover, Anaerobic culturing, 2015-2016
Javier Cattle, Field analyses and fungal culturing, 2015-2016
Laiken Price, Anaerobic culturing and molecular studies, 2015-2016
Lucy Winesett, Anaerobic culturing and molecular studies, 2014-2016
Jacob Montgomery, Field analyses and culturing, 2014-2016
Andrew Hughes, Field analyses and culturing, 2014-2016
Jeffrey Mudgett, Culturing Mn(II) oxidizers in caves, 2014-2015
Elizabeth Wimmer, Fungal culturing, 2014
Michael Rojas-Steinbrecher, Assisting with field analyses, Summer 2014
Peter Boucher, Bioinformatics, 2012-2014
Austin Harbison, Anaerobic culturing, 2012-2014
Kelley Burns, Fungal culturing and molecular studies, 2012-2013
Grey Monroe, Anaerobic culturing and field analyses, 2011-2013
Kristen Pate, Archaea in peat, 2011-2012
Taylor Jones, Phylogenetic analyses of archaea in peat, 2011
Bryan Zorn, Molecular analyses of fungal communities in caves, 2011-2012
Zachary Anderson, Culturing and molecular techniques, 2010-2012
Noah Goodson, Characterization of methanogenic archaea, and qPCR analyses, 2010-2012
Amanda Strom, Culturing Mn(II) oxidizers and assisting with molecular techniques, 2010-2012
Whitney McDonald and Natalie Rose, Molecular analyses of wetland samples, 2009-2010
Jared Butler, High-throughput culturing, and cloning from Karst samples, 2009-2010
Kornelia Gailor, Culturing manganese oxidizers, 2009
Clare Adams, Quantifying Rhodobacter populations in the Columbia River Estuary, 2008-2009
Kira Kranzler, Culturing manganese oxidizers, creating clone libraries of RuBisCO genes, and assisting with biogeochemical analyses as part of an NSF Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program (REU), Summer 2007
Criag Bierle, Cellulolytic bacteria in peat, 2002-2006
Seppo Aro, Analyzing methanogenic rates and culturing acetogens, 2004-2006
Nori Ueno, Culturing acetogens and characterizing Firimicutes strain TR1, 2004-2005
Vikram Mathrani, Culturing N2 fixing microorganisms, 2002-2003

Thesis Committees Chaired
Anna-Maria Riley, Anthropogenic impact in show caves, 2021-present
Bryce Norvell, Bulk geochemistry and microbial sequencing of cave clays, 2020-2023
Morgan Smith, Mineral preference for attachment by Mn-oxidizers, 2019-2020
Sydney Bear, Analysis of mcrA in peatlands, 2018-2020
Katrina Godsey, Bioremediation by Mn-oxidizing bacteria, 2017-2020
James Seward, Peatland microbes along a latitudinal gradient in N. America, 2016-2018
Austin Harbison, Anaerobic culturing, 2014-2016
Mara Cashay (Cloutier), Illumina sequencing of microbes in caves, 2014-2016
Bryan Zorn, Fungal populations in caves, 2012-2014
Ashley Hawkins, Methanogenic archaea in high elevation peat-forming wetlands, 2010-2013
Mary Jane Carmichael, Molecular analyses of Mn oxides and associated bacteria, 2009-2012

PhD Committees (with collaborators)
James Seward, Biogeochemistry of global peatlands, Laurentian University, 2018-2023
Michael Carson, CH4 enrichments and biogeochemistry of impacted peatlands, Laurentian University, 2014-2018
Mary Jane Carmichael, Plant-microbe interactions, Wake Forest University 2012-2017