Jeremy Schmutz

Mr. Schmutz’s involvement with the DOE Joint Genome Institute dates back to 1997, when he was working for the Stanford Human Genome Center, now the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology. There he constructed the pipelines for directed finishing and co-led the team that finished the DOE human chromosomes 5, 16, and 19. Following the completion of the human genome project in 2003, he developed sequencing, assembly, and improvement strategies for de novo sequencing of eukaryotic organisms from simple yeasts to large vertebrate genomes.

For the past 10 years, Mr. Schmutz has directed the JGI Plant Program, focusing on the organization of community-driven science for JGI Plant Flagship Genomes and DOE relevant cellulosic feedstocks. Mr. Schmutz provides scientific project management for the reference eukaryotic genomes produced by the DOE Joint Genome Institute and the collaborative projects funded through the CSP program. In addition to continuing to develop strategies for plant genome sequencing, he is a faculty investigator at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology where he manages the de novo plant assembly and the post-genome computational analysis at HudsonAlpha.

Education

• BA in Biology, North Central College, Naperville, IL
• BS in Computer Science, North Central College, Naperville, IL

Awards and Service

• Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researcher/The World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 (Plant & Animal Science)
• Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researcher: Plant and Animal Science 2018, 2019, 2020
• 2012 Cotton Biotechnology Award
• Editorial Board Member for Genome Research

Publications

• Lovell, JT et al. 2021. Genomic mechanisms of climate adaptation in polyploid bioenergy switchgrass. Nature 590: 438-444.
• Mamidi, S et al. 2020. A genome resource for green millet Setaria viridis enables discovery of agronomically valuable loci. Nature Biotechnology 38:1203-1210.
• Chen, ZJ et al. 2020. Genomic diversifications of five Gossypium allopolyploid species and their impact on cotton improvement. Nature Genetics 52: 525-533.
• Lovell, JT et al. 2018. The genomic landscape of molecular responses to natural drought stress in Panicum hallii. Nature Communications 9: 5213.
• Huang, P et al. 2017. Sparse panicle1 is required for inflorescence development in Setaria viridis and maize. Nature Plants 3:17054.
• Schmutz, J, & McClean P et al. 2014. A reference genome for common bean and genome-wide analysis of dual domestications. Nature Genetics 46: 707-713.
• Paterson, AH et al. 2012. Repeated polyploidization of Gossypium genomes and the evolution of spinnable cotton fibres. Nature 492: 423-427.
• Bennetzen, JL & Schmutz, J et al. 2012. Reference genome sequence of the model plant Setaria. Nature Biotechnology 30: 555-561.
• The International Brachypodium Initiative. Genome sequencing and analysis of the model grass Brachypodium distachyon. Nature 2010;463:763-8.
• Schmutz, J et al. 2010. Genome sequence of the palaeopolyploid soybean. Nature 4637278: 178-183.