Download CV - Noah Whiteman

Anna C. Nelson Dittrich
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843
Phone: (979) 845-2600
Email: [email protected]
EDUCATION
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Ph.D. Biochemistry
GPA: 3.90/4.00
2006 – 2012
Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Weatherford, OK
B.S. Biology (minor chemistry)
GPA: 3.92/4.00
2002 – 2006
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Protein phosphorylation and signal transduction pathways, cell death regulation, comparative and evolutionary
biology, evolution of conserved pathways, plant-pathogen and plant-insect interactions, evolution of herbivory
and host specificity, natural variation in host-parasite interactions.
RESEARCH POSITIONS
University of Arizona – Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Postdoctoral researcher (PI: Noah Whiteman)
 Main project: Evolutionary biochemistry of mustard oil detoxification in the Drosophilidae
 Other projects: Thermal ecology of plant-herbivore interactions
2012 – Present
Texas A&M University – Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
2006 – 2012
Ph.D. student (PI: Timothy Devarenne)
 Dissertation project: Investigation of a 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 (PDK1) homologue in
the moss Physcomitrella patens.
 Other projects: Characterization of a second PDK1 phosphorylation site in the cell-death suppressing protein
kinase Adi3, identification of an Adi3 mutant that can specifically utilize bulky ATP analogues.
Southwestern Oklahoma State University – Department of Chemistry and Physics
2005 – 2006
Undergraduate research assistant (PIs: William Kelly and Doris Benbrook)
 Project: Characterization of the apopotosis-inducing effects of SHet-A2, a heteroarotinoid anticancer drug, on
mitochondria isolated from cancer cell lines.
Southwestern Oklahoma State University – Department of Biological Sciences
Undergraduate research assistant (PI: Muatasem Ubeidat)
 Project: Investigation of 5’-nucleotidase localization and activity in Dictyostelium discoideum.
2004 – 2006
Southwestern Oklahoma State University – Department of Biological Sciences
2004 – 2006
Undergraduate research assistant (PI: Peter Grant)
 Project: Collection and cataloging of mayfly species in all major waterways throughout Oklahoma.
MENTORING
Devarenne lab – Texas A&M University
Mentor to undergraduate research assistant
 Three semesters mentoring an undergraduate researcher, Austin Rivera
2010 – 2012
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 Project: Interaction between 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 (PDK1) and the receptor-like
kinase BAK1 in Arabidopsis.
Biochemistry Graduate Student Association – Texas A&M University
2007 – 2012
Active member and mentor to new graduate students
 Provide advice and assistance to one incoming biochemistry graduate student each year
 Participate in recruitment of new biochemistry graduate students each spring
 Assist first-year biochemistry graduate students with development of an original research proposal (ORP) that
is presented at the end of their first year
Ubeidat lab – Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Mentor to undergraduate research assistants
 Provide advice and assistance to several new undergraduate researchers
 Project: Investigation of 5’-nucleotidase localization and activity in Dictyostelium discoideum.
2005 – 2006
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics – Texas A&M University
Teaching Assistant for Donald Pettigrew – BICH 410 (Comprehensive biochemistry I) lecture
2011
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics – Texas A&M University
Teaching Assistant for Bryant Miles – BICH 411 (Comprehensive biochemistry II) lecture
2010
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics – Texas A&M University
Teaching Assistant for Bill Park – BICH 411 (Comprehensive biochemistry II) lecture
2009
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics – Texas A&M University
Teaching Assistant for Leisha Mullins – BICH 411 (Comprehensive biochemistry II) lecture
2008
Department of Biological Sciences – Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Teaching Assistant for Muatasem Ubeidat – BIOL 3254 (Genetics) laboratory
2005
Department of Biological Sciences – Southwestern Oklahoma State University
2004 – 2005
Biology departmental tutor – BIOL 1004 (Biological Concepts), BIOL 1054 (Principles of Biology), BIOL 2204
(Introductory Zoology), BIOL 2404 (Introductory Botany), BIOL 3254 (Genetics), BIOL 3704 (Human Anatomy)
AWARDS
2012: Postdoctoral Excellence in Research and Teaching (PERT) fellowship, University of Arizona Center for
Insect Science
2012: John Mack Prescott graduate research and academic excellence award ($1000), Texas A&M Department of
Biochemistry and Biophysics
2011: Travel grant award ($575), American Society of Plant Biologists
2011: Travel grant award ($600), Texas A&M Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
2010: Teaching excellence award for 2009, Texas A&M Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
2008: Third place, Biochemistry and Biophysics departmental research competition ($200)
2006: Molecular and Cellular Biology training program, Texas A&M Department of Biochemistry and
Biophysics
2006: Graduate merit fellowship, Texas A&M University
2006: Hobart F. Landreth award for outstanding research, Southwestern Oklahoma State University
2006: INBRE summer research grant ($3000), Southwestern Oklahoma State University
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2005: M.D. Jirous Foundation scholarship, Southwestern Oklahoma State University
2005: Otis King memorial scholarship, Southwestern Oklahoma State University
2005: Mary L. Miller field biology award, Southwestern Oklahoma State University
ORGANIZATIONS AND ACTIVITIES
Texas A&M Student Research Week judge
2012
American Society of Plant Biologists member
2011 – present
QPR Suicide Prevention, certified gatekeeper
2011 – present
Reviewed manuscripts: FEBS Lett, J Biol Chem, Plant Physiol Biochem
Laboratory Management and Conflict Resolution workshop participant, Texas A&M University
2010-2012
2010
Biochemistry Original Research Proposal volunteer, Texas A&M University
2007 – 2012
Biochemistry graduate student recruiting volunteer, Texas A&M University
2007 – 2012
Biochemistry Graduate Association member, Texas A&M University
2006 – 2012
Molecular and Cellular Biology training program, Texas A&M University
2006 – 2007
National Honor Society member
2005 – 2006
Weatherford blood testing clinic volunteer, Southwestern Oklahoma State University
2004 – 2006
Biology Club member, Southwestern Oklahoma State University
2003 – 2006
PUBLICATIONS
Nelson Dittrich AC, Devarenne TP (2012) Perspectives in PDK1 evolution: insights from photosynthetic and nonphotosynthetic organisms. Plant Signaling and Behavior in press, publication June 2012.
Nelson Dittrich AC, Devarenne TP (2012) Characterization of a PDK1 homologue from the moss Physcomitrella
patens. Plant Physiology 158: 1018-1033.
Nelson Dittrich AC, Devarenne TP (2012) An ATP analog-sensitive version of the tomato cell death suppressor
protein kinase Adi3 for use in substrate identification. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta Proteins and Proteomics
1824: 269-273.
Le TC, Berlin KD, Benson SD, Eastman MA, Bell-Eunice G, Nelson AC, and Benbrook DM (2007)
Heteroarotinoids with anti-cancer activity against ovarian cancer cells. Open Medicinal Chemistry Journal 1: 1123.
MANUSCRIPTS IN PREPARATION
Nelson Dittrich AC, Devarenne TP. Significance of a second major phosphorylation site on the tomato cell death
suppressing protein kinase Adi3.
Nelson A, Cifuentes-Rojas C, Shakirov EV, Nelson Dittrich AC, Shippen DE. AtPOT1b: a telomerase
accessory factor important for the processing of TER2 in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Nelson A, Renfrew K, Nelson Dittrich AC, Surovtseva Y, Shippen DE. POT1c: a novel component of the
telomere capping complex and negative regulator of telomerase activity in Arabidopsis thaliana.
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PRESENTATIONS
2012: “Regulation of plant cell death by conserved protein kinases.” Invited talk, SWOSU Biology departmental
seminar series. February 2012, Southwestern Oklahoma State University (Weatherford, OK).
2011: “3-phosphoinositide dependent protein kinase-1 in the moss Physcomitrella patens.” August 2011,
American Society of Plant Biologists annual meeting (Minneapolis, MN).
2008: “Activation of the protein kinase Adi3, a negative regulator of cell death in tomato, by the upstream kinase
PDK1.” Biochemistry student research competition. February 2008, Texas A&M University (College Station,
TX).
2006: “Mitochondrial effects of the anticancer compound SHetA2 on ovarian cancer.” INBRE summer research
seminar. July 2006, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (Oklahoma City, OK).
2006: “Importance of Dictyostelium discoideum 5’ nucleotidase.” Oklahoma Research Day for Regional
Universities. Spring 2006, Oklahoma State Capitol Building (Oklahoma City, OK).
2005: “Dictyostelium discoideum 5’ nucleotidase activity and localization.” SWOSU Research Day. Spring 2005,
Southwestern Oklahoma State University (Weatherford, OK).
REFERENCES
Noah Whiteman, University of Arizona
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
1041 E. Lowell St., P.O. Box 210088
Tucson, AZ 84721
Phone: (520) 626-3950
E-mail: [email protected]
Timothy Devarenne, Texas A&M University
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
300 Olsen Blvd.
College Station, TX 77840
Phone: (979) 862-6509
E-mail: [email protected]
Bill Park, Texas A&M University
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
300 Olsen Blvd.
College Station, TX 77840
Phone: (979) 845-8868
E-mail: [email protected]
Michael Polymenis, Texas A&M University
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
300 Olsen Blvd.
College Station, TX 77840
Phone: (979) 458-3259
E-mail: [email protected]
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