Education
2023
PhD, Marine Biology (Parasitology)
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego
Advisor: Ryan F Hechinger
2015
BS, Biology (Molecular)
Radford University
Mathematics and Chemistry concentrations
Summa Cum Laude
Dean’s Scholar
Artis Fellow
Publications & presentations
2025
Metz, D.C.G., K.L. Weinersmith, A.S. Beagle, R.M. Dixit, C.G. Fragel, & C.E. Cressler. Deadly decomposers: four life history strategies on the parasitism-saprotrophy spectrum. Ecology Letters 28(6): e70135. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.70135
Nelson, A.P., D.C.G. Metz & R.F. Hechinger. Description, redescription, and life cycles of Cloacitrema kurisi n. sp. and Cloacitrema michiganensis (Trematoda: Digenea: Philophthalmidae) from the California horn snail, Cerithideopsis californica (Gastropoda: Potamididae). Journal of Parasitology 111(4): 393-411. https://doi.org/10.1645/24-41
Metz, D.C.G., E.M. Palmer & R.F. Hechinger. Quantifying senescence, death rates, and lifespans of trematode parthenitae. Journal of Helminthology 99(e51): 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022149X25000331
Palmer, E.M., D.C.G. Metz & R.F. Hechinger. Further evidence for the possible transmission of fishborne trematodiasis in the United States: game fish carry human-infectious trematodes and are eaten raw. Journal of Infectious Diseases jiaf180. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiaf180
Metz, D.C.G., D. Chang van Oordt, A.L. Graham, & C.E. Cressler. Initial immune conditions predict nematode within-host dynamics. American Society of Parasitologists 100th annual meeting oral presentation, Winston-Salem, NC.
2024
Cressler, C.E., D.C.G. Metz, D. Chang Van Oordt, & A.L Graham. Immunological feedback loops generate parasite persistence thresholds that explain variation in infection duration. Proc. R. Soc. B. 291(2031): 20240934. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2024.0934
Metz, D.C.G., & R.F. Hechinger. The physical soldier caste of an invasive, human-infecting flatworm is morphologically extreme and obligately sterile. PNAS 121(31): e2400953121. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2400953121
○ Featured in Science: ‘Body snatcher’ parasites blow holes in enemies, suck out their guts. Stokstad, Eric. (2024) https://www.science.org/content/article/body-snatcher-parasites-blow-holes-enemies-suck-out-their-guts
○ Featured in National Geographic: This parasite uses a clone army to suck out the guts of its enemies. Bittel, Jason. (2024) https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/parasite-trematode-flatworms-soldier-caste
Metz, D.C.G. & R.F. Hechinger. Using inverse-matrix projection models to reveal hidden caste biology and the demographic drivers of trematode colony structure. International Congress on Trematodology inaugural meeting oral presentation, Brisbane, Australia.
Chang Van Oordt, D., O. Oyesola, D.C.G. Metz, S. Chang, P. Loke, C.E. Cressler, A.L Graham. Initial immune state of rewilded lab mice as a driver of host susceptibility to intestinal whipworms. Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology annual meeting, Seattle, WA.
2023
R.F. Hechinger & D.C.G. Metz. Social evolution: diverse divisions of labor in trematode parasites. Current Biology 33(23): R1238-R1240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.10.029
Metz, D.C.G., & R.F. Hechinger. Social organization in parasitic worms: novel application of matrix population models to within-host dynamics reveal how trematodes build their defensive army. Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases annual meeting, State College, PA.
Metz, D.C.G, A.P. Nelson, A.V. Turner & R.F. Hechinger. Potential for emergence of foodborne trematodiases transmitted by an introduced snail (Melanoides tuberculata) in California and elsewhere in the United States. Journal of Infectious Diseases 227(2):183-192. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiac413
2022
Hopkins, S.R., …, D.C.G. Metz, et al. Evidence gaps and diversity among potential win–win solutions for conservation and human infectious disease control. The Lancet Planetary Health 6(8): e694-e705. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(22)00148-6
Metz, D.C.G & R.F. Hechinger. Intramolluscan trematodes as closed populations: projection matrix models reveal infrapopulation dynamics and help resolve questions about trematode sociality. American Society of Parasitologists annual meeting, College Station, TX.
Metz, D.C.G, E.M. Palmer & R.F. Hechinger. Cercaria emergence rates let us calculate trematode parthenita within-host dynamics. American Society of Parasitologists annual meeting, College Station, TX.
Nelson, A.P., D.C.G Metz & R.F. Hechinger. Description, redescription, and life cycles of four philophthalmids (Trematoda: Digenea) from the California horn snail, Cerithideopsis californica (Gastropoda: Potamididae). American Society of Parasitologists annual meeting, College Station, TX.
2021
Metz, D.C.G, & R.F. Hechinger. Lynnia grapsolytica n. gen, n. sp. (Ciliophora: Apostomatida: Colliniidae), a deadly blood parasite of crabs with a novel pseudocytopharynx. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology 68: e12847. https://doi.org/10.1111/jeu.12847
Metz, D.C.G, & R.F. Hechinger. Detecting the hidden dynamics of social organization in colonies using projection matrix models. Southern California Academy of Sciences / Southern California Parasitologists, 2021 joint annual meeting, virtual.
○ Best presentation: Southern California Parasitologists
○ Best student oral presentation: Southern California Academy of Sciences
Metz, D.C.G, & R.F. Hechinger. Projection matrix models reveal intra-colony dynamics of difficult-to-observe colonial organisms. Western Society of Naturalists, 2021 annual meeting, virtual.
Hartmann, T.N.A., D.C.G. Metz, & R.F. Hechinger. Effects of trematode parasitic castrators on California horn snail hemocyte population structure. Western Society of Malacologists, 2021 annual meeting, virtual.
Grants and awards
2023
Scripps Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, University of California, San Diego.
2022
Program of Excellence postdoctoral fellowship. University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
○ An independent research project, mentored by Dr. Clay Cressler
○ Project scope: develop mathematical theory exploring how parasites interact within a host
2021
Evaluating the possible transmission in California of food-borne zoonotic trematode parasites carried by the introduced snail Melanoides tuberculata. National Institutes of Health grant 1R03AI156569-01.
○ My discovery of invasive, human-infectious, foodborne parasites in Southern California was the basis of this grant
○ Salary paid from this grant for 4 quarters
2020
University of California, San Diego Graduate Teaching Fellowship
○ Designed and taught, as instructor of record, Statistics for Marine Biology (SIO 187) during summer quarter
2019
Southern California Academy of Sciences Student Research Grant: “Soldiers and reproductives: the nature of trematode caste structure”
2014
Ecology Social of America SEEDS National Research Fellowship
○ Undergraduate research project: “A new blood parasite of shore crabs reveals a novel genus of ciliates”
○ ESA mentor: Dr. Ryan Hechinger, University of California, Santa Barbara
Teaching & mentorship
Instructor: Fundamentals of Biology II (UNL – LIFE 121). University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 2024-2025
○ 4 credit hours
Instructor: Statistics for Marine Biology (SIO 187). University of California, San Diego. 2021.
○ 4 credit hours
My research launched the projects of 4 M.S. students, who I mentored directly in both research and scholarship. Projects:
○ I discovered an undescribed species of marine mermithid nematode; the M.S. project involved morphological and molecular characterization of this new worm. Degree completed 2020.
○ I designed the barcoding primers and molecular protocols for an M.S. project involving genetic barcoding of unidentified, preserved trematodes and cestodes. Degree completed 2020.
○ I helped plan a project exploring the hematology of California horn snails and fabricated the tools needed to non-lethally collect blood from snails. Degree expected 2023.
○ My discovery of invasive, human-infectious trematodes in southern California launched an NIH grant (1R03AI156569-01) and was the foundation for an M.S. project exploring the distribution of these zoonotic worms in common sport fishes. Degree expected 2023.
Certification: Introduction to College Teaching. University of California, San Diego. 2021.
○ 30-hour course in modern pedagogical techniques
Teaching assistant: Parasitology (SIO 131). University of California, San Diego. 2018, 2020, 2022.
○ 6 credit hours, laboratory
Teaching assistant: Marine Biology (SIO 132). University of California, San Diego. 2019, 2020.
○ 4 credit hours
Guest Lecturer: “Preparation of hydrated samples for scanning electron microscopy” – Materials Characterization (SIOG 239). University of California, San Diego. 2017.
Teaching Assistant: Genetics, Evolution and Development (BIOL 231). Radford University. 2013, 2014.
○ 4 credit hours