American research chemist who has worked at the National Animal Disease Center since 1975, when she received her Ph.D. in biochemistry from Iowa State University. Schmerr's research interests include the application of microtechniques to the study of animal diseases and the development of new methods to define viral interactions with host cells. She is a member of several professional societies, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Chemical Society, and the International Association for Comparative Research on Leukemia and Related Diseases.