Michael G. Schmidt

Michael G. Schmidt is a tenured Professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Immunology at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). He holds academic affiliations with the Colleges of Dentistry, Graduate Studies, and Medicine at MUSC. His primary research focuses on controlling hospital-acquired infections through antimicrobial copper surfaces, pandemic preparedness, and bacterial pathogenesis. He earned his Ph.D. in Microbiology from Indiana University, Bloomington. Schmidt leads interdisciplinary teams investigating microbial transmission in clinical environments, notably demonstrating that copper alloys reduce healthcare-associated infections by 58% through sustained microbial burden reduction.

His professional roles include serving as immediate past Chair of the Council for Microbial Sciences (2019-2020), contributing to global summits on SARS-CoV-2, and co-chairing ASM public engagement initiatives. Notably, his work with copper surfaces has been featured in Smithsonian Magazine and Vice, alongside a TEDxCharleston talk. He actively participates in educational missions, reviews scientific literature, and co-hosts the This Week in Microbiology podcast.

Research interests extend to phage therapy, mineralization of vapor solvents, and disaster preparedness. His work has been funded by NIH, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Justice. Key achievements include patents on copper-iodide dental materials and antimicrobial adhesives, as well as collaborations with architects and engineers to design infection-resistant clinical environments.

Major awards include Fellowships in the American Academy of Microbiology and the American College of Dentists. His interdisciplinary approach bridges microbiology, public health, and clinical practice, addressing critical challenges in infection control and global health emergencies.