Dr. Erich Schwarz is an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics. He uses comparative nematode genomics to decipher both parasitic disease and fundamental biology. His current projects include defining vaccine targets in the zoonotic hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum, identifying genes required for male-female mating in Caenorhabditis nematodes, and identifying genes that are conserved between Caenorhabditis and humans, but that are largely or completely uncharacterized (“conserved unknowns”). He has found PACE to be a highly detailed and practical guide to writing potentially effective NIH R01 grant applications.