Tony Mertz, PhD

Assistant Professor (Research Scholar Track)

PRONOUNS he/him

Tony smiling
Pronouns he/him
Affiliated Department(s)
  • Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
  • UVM Cancer Center member

BIO

  • Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology, 2002) from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
  • Ph.D. (Cancer Research, 2015) from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. My dissertation topic was focused on the study of replicative polymerase variants found in human cancer.
  • Post-doctoral fellowship (2015-2022) at Washington State University under the mentorship or Dr. Steven Roberts.
  • Faculty Scientist (2023-2024) at the University of Vermont. 

     

Publications

Tony Mertz's publications

Area(s) of expertise

  • DNA damage and mutagenesis.
  • Cancer genetics and therapeutics. 

Bio

  • Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology, 2002) from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
  • Ph.D. (Cancer Research, 2015) from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. My dissertation topic was focused on the study of replicative polymerase variants found in human cancer.
  • Post-doctoral fellowship (2015-2022) at Washington State University under the mentorship or Dr. Steven Roberts.
  • Faculty Scientist (2023-2024) at the University of Vermont. 

     

Areas of Expertise

  • DNA damage and mutagenesis.
  • Cancer genetics and therapeutics. 

Lab Team

Undergraduates: Sylvia Snow, Laura Brooks, Dana Barrington, and Sophie Venman

Overall Goal of Our Research

Discover & characterize molecular changes in tumor cells that modulate DNA damage and mutagenesis, which is important because elevated mutagenesis in tumor cells promotes metastasis and therapeutic resistance while increased DNA damage and defective DNA repair pathways.