Biography
At Calvin Professor Wertz teaches the Phage Research course, Microbiology, and Medical Microbiology. Others areas of scholarly interest include the history of science, and how disease epidemics have shaped world history.
While not at Calvin, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his family, boating, swimming, biking, and hiking. An avid music lover, he is often found at various concerts around Grand Rapids or dancing (badly) to music in his office.
Education
- B.S. in Biology, Calvin College, 2001
- Ph.D. in Microbiology, Michigan State University, 2006
Professional Experience
After graduating from Calvin College in 2001, John went to Michigan State University to complete a Ph.D. in Microbiology, there he focused on the sub-field of microbial ecology. After completion of his Ph.D., he went on to a postdoctoral position, also at Michigan State, doing research in a developing (as-yet-unnamed) field where microbial ecology meets medical microbiology. As part of his postdoctoral experience, he jumped at the opportunity to teach an introductory biology course for biology majors, which consisted of a class size of 250 students. Jumping away from such large class sizes (among other things), he sought refuge back at Calvin where he has been teaching since 2007.
Academic Interests
Dr Wertz's research interests include investigating bacterial symbioses within complex ecosystems. He is particularly interested in the biochemical basis for microbe-microbe and host-microbe symbioses, which includes the detection and cultivation of novel bacteria and bacteriophage diversity. As a model, he uses the termite gut (Reticulitermes flavipes) which contains as many as 700 different species of bacteria that interact in a complex web with each other and with the insect host. He has been successful in isolating many novel bacteria from the termite, including members of the elusive bacterial division Verrucomicrobia. With collaborators Corrie Moreau (Field Museum), Jacob Russell (Drexel University) and Scott Powell (George Washington University) he is also taking his knowledge of the termite gut and applying it to the herbivorous turtle ant (Cephalotes) system. Given the relatively nutrient-poor diet of this group of ants, his research focuses on how symbiotic bacteria have impacted the impressive diversification and ecological success of these insects.
Research and Scholarship
