Using cutting-edge genomics to understand coral resilience genetics, characterize coral microbiomes, and develop research-based conservation solutions.
PhD, Harvard University
Director, School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability
Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
@ Florida Atlantic University
BS, University of California, San Diego
Research focuses on identifying coral pathogens and mutualists using coral-microbial filtration, manipulation and metagenomic techniques. Joined the Vollmer lab as a PhD student in 2022.
@ Northeastern University
BS, Cornell University
Research focuses on characterizing the pathogens associated with Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease. Joined the Vollmer lab as a PhD student in 2023.
@ Northeastern University
MS, Florida Atlantic University
Researches the genomics of coral thermal tolerance, speciation and hybridization.
@ Northeastern University AND @ Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute
Understanding the genetic basis of coral disease resistance and thermal tolerance. We identify genes and genomic regions that help corals survive diseases like White Band Disease and adapt to warming oceans.
Studying coral-associated microbial communities to distinguish beneficial symbionts from harmful pathogens. We use metagenomics to understand how diverse microbiomes influence coral health and disease susceptibility.
Translating genomic discoveries into practical conservation applications. We work with coral restoration organizations to select disease-resistant genotypes and develop evidence-based strategies for reef restoration.
Vollmer, S. V., Selwyn, J. D., Despard, B. A., & Roesel, C. L. (2023). Genomic signatures of disease resistance in endangered staghorn corals. Science, 381(6665), 1451-1454. DOI:10.1126/science.adi3601
Identified 10 genomic regions and 73 SNPs associated with white band disease resistance in Caribbean staghorn corals. Polygenic scores can predict disease resistance and be applied to improving coral restoration efforts.
Selwyn, JD, Despard, BA, Vollmer, MV, Trytten EC, Vollmer, SV (2024) Machine learning based identification of putative coral pathogens in endangered Caribbean staghorn coral. Environmental Microbiology 26 (9) e16700 https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.16700
Applied machine learning approaches to identify potential coral pathogens, advancing understanding of white band disease etiology in endangered Caribbean staghorn corals.
Selwyn, J. D., Despard, B. A., Galvan-Dubois, K. A., Trytten, E. C., & Vollmer, S. V. (2025). Antibiotic pretreatment inhibits white band disease infection by suppressing the bacterial pathobiome. Frontiers in Marine Science, 12, 1491476.
Prophylactic antibiotic treatment reduced white band disease infection rates by 30 percentage points by suppressing Vibrio species and other opportunistic pathogens in coral microbiomes.
Despard, B.A., Selwyn, J.D., Shupp, A.N. and Vollmer, S.V. (2025), A Network Approach to White Band Disease Challenged Staghorn Coral Acropora cervicornis microRNAs and Their Targets. Ecol Evol, 15: e71351. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71351
Used network analysis to identify microRNA-target interactions in disease-challenged staghorn corals, revealing post-transcriptional gene regulation mechanisms during white band disease infection.
Selwyn, J. D., & Vollmer, S. V. (2023). Whole genome assembly and annotation of the endangered Caribbean coral Acropora cervicornis. G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics, Volume 13, Issue 12, December 2023, jkad232, https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkad232
Assembled and annotated the first high-quality reference genome for endangered staghorn coral, providing a crucial genomic resource for coral conservation and disease resistance research.
Dr. Steve Vollmer
Director, School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability
Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Florida Atlantic University
Email: svollmer@fau.edu
Google Scholar: Steve V Vollmer