Melissa Suter, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

(713) 798-4192

Email

masuter@bcm.edu

Positions

Assistant Professor: Obstetrics and Gynecology
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX, US

Co-Director: Clinical Translational Research Certificate of Added Qualification (CTR-CAQ) Program
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Baylor College of Medicine

Faculty Member: Development, Disease Models & Therapeutics Graduate Program
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Baylor College of Medicine

Faculty Member: Cancer & Cell Biology Graduate Program
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Baylor College of Medicine

Education

BA from College of the Holy Cross: 06/1999 - Worecster, MA; Biology, Psychology

PhD from University of Massachusetts Medical School: 07/2008 - Worcester, MA

Professional Interests

Women's Health
Toxicology and Environmental Exposures
Obesity and Metabolism

Professional Statement

As an environmental health scientist focused on pregnancy and dedicated educator, I lead a translational research program focused on understanding how environmental exposures shape placental biology and contribute to preterm birth risk. Supported by NIH/NIEHS funding, my work employs advanced molecular, transcriptomic, metabolomic, and exposure‑science approaches to identify mechanisms linking PAHs, microplastics, metabolic stressors, and maternal health with fetal development. Complementing my research, I provide sustained leadership in graduate education as Associate Director of the CTR‑CAQ Program and Course Director for several institutional translational research curricula. I have a strong track record of mentoring trainees at all stages and cultivating interdisciplinary learning environments that prepare them for careers in science and medicine. My goal is to advance knowledge that improves maternal–infant health while shaping educational programs that develop the next generation of translational researchers.

Websites

VIICTR Publications List

Selected Publications

Shope CD, Lucas AE, Cherry SM, Aagaard KM, Suter MA.. " Social Vulnerability and Perinatal Risk: Demographic Determinants of the Impact of a Natural Disaster on Pregnant Women " Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2025 Nov 4; 4;19:e309
Pubmed PMID: 41185572.
Neumann O, Sánchez-Alvarado AB, Jiang W, Zhou GD, Jorveka SB, Dhindsa P, Putluri N, Nordlander P, Suter MA, Moorthy B, Halas NJ.. " SERS and SEIRA Detection of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and their Derivatives in Murine Tissues: Bioaccumulation and Clearance " J Raman Spectrosc.. 2025 Oct 9; 10
Pubmed PMID: 42465662.
Hummel G, Banerjee S, Putluri V, Malick I, Johnson G, Kamal AHM, Ambati CSR, Putluri N, Showalter L, Shope CD, Hagan J, Aagaard KM, Moorthy B, Suter MA. " Placental Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) Levels Are Associated with Spontaneous Preterm Birth " Int J Mol Sci.. 2025 Aug 23; 26
Pubmed PMID: 40943106.
Neumann O, Ju Y, Sanchez-Alvarado AB, Zhou G, Jiang W, Moorthy B, Suter MA, Patel A, Nordlander P, Halas NJ.. " Machine learning-enhanced surface-enhanced spectroscopic detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the human placenta " Proc Natl Acad Sci. 2025 Feb 18; 122(7)
Pubmed PMID: 39928861.

Memberships

Society of Toxicology

Perinatal Research Society

Funding

Investigating the role of PAH exposures associated with superfund site proximity in preterm birth etiology through placental transcriptomics and metagenomics #5P42ES027725-07: (02/01/2020 - 01/31/2030); Grant funding from National Institutes of Health