Resume

• 2014

  American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

  English

  John Nikelly Excellence in Teaching Award

  This award was granted for excellence in teaching of biochemistry

  molecular biology and genetics recitations and general chemistry lab. \n

  University of the Sciences- Chemistry & Biochemistry Department

  Levko

  S.J. Scholarship for excellence in Math

  John Levko at the University of Scranton

• 2009

  Daughters of the American Revolution

  American Chemical Society

  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

  Biochemistry

  Graduate Student Organization (Head Senator and President) Graduate Ambassador

  University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

  Medicinal Chemistry

  Grant and Scientific Writing

  Computer Aided Drug Design

  Advanced Biochemistry

  Advanced Nucleic Acid

  American Red Cross

  Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED

• 2005

  Bachelors of Science

  Biochemistry

  Phi Lambda Upsilon

  University of Scranton

• 6thSymposium_Program.pdf

  Chemical Biology Progress & Challenges May 4th

  2013 College Park

  Maryland Sixth Annual Frontiers at the Chemistry‐Biology Interface Sym...

  6thSymposium_Program.pdf

  Chemical Biology Progress & Challenges May 4th

  2013 College Park

  Maryland Sixth Annual Frontiers at the Chemistry‐Biology Interface Sym...

  The officers and I worked with administration to address the issues and problems that graduate students had at USciences. I met regularly with the president

  provost

  deans

  and the Board of Trustees of USciences to resolve the issues. Many of the issues that I addressed were resolved and the administration is still working to mitigate the remaining issues. Although I never benefited from the changes that were implemented to address the issues of graduate students

  I still fought hard to assure that the students did not have to face the same problems that my cohorts and I faced. \n\nThrough the GSO

  I organized professional development seminar talks and social events to encourage the students to network. Also

  because of the involvement of GSO on campus and many accomplishments made during my presidency

  we won Organization of the year award and 2nd place at the USciences Olympics.

  Graduate Student Organization (GSO)

  Participant

  As a graduate student

  I was actively involved with several Committees on campus as a voice for graduate students. I was a member of the following:\n\n1. Strategic Planning Committee \n2. Co-chair of Subcommittee for Academic Affairs\n3. Enrollment and Student Success subcommittee of the Board of Trustees \n4. Graduate Student Ambassador

  Committees

  Judge

  Annually

  I participate as a judge for the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Sciences. Additionally

  I have judged for several different science fairs and poster competitions around Philadelphia with age groups from middle school to 7-12th grade students to undergrad

  Master and PhD students.

  PENNSYLVANIA JUNIOR ACADEMY OF SCIENCE

  Molecular Cloning

  Biochemistry

  Western Blotting

  Flow Cytometry

  Cell Biology

  Biotechnology

  Gel Electrophoresis

  Protein Purification

  Research

  Genetics

  Molecular Biology

  Laboratory

  SDS-PAGE

  Protein Chemistry

  PCR

  Microscopy

  High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

  DNA extraction

  Cell Culture

  Laboratory Skills

  Iron-dependent cleavage of ribosomal RNA during oxidative stress in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

  Stress-induced strand breaks in rRNA have been observed in many organisms

  but the mechanisms by which they originate are not well understood. Here

  we show that a chemical rather than enzymatic mechanism initiates rRNA cleavages during oxidative stress in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). We used cells lacking the mitochondrial glutaredoxin Grx5 to demonstrate that oxidant-induced cleavage formation in 25S rRNA correlates with intracellular iron levels. Sequestering free iron by a chemical or genetic means decreased the extent of rRNA degradation and relieved the hypersensitivity of grx5Δ cells to the oxidants. Importantly

  subjecting purified ribosomes to an in vitro iron/ascorbate reaction precisely recapitulated the 25S rRNA cleavage pattern observed in cells

  indicating that redox activity of the ribosome-bound iron is responsible for the strand breaks in the rRNA. In summary

  our findings provide evidence that oxidative stress–associated rRNA cleavages can occur through rRNA strand scission by redox-active

  ribosome-bound iron that potentially promotes Fenton reaction–induced hydroxyl radical production

  implicating intracellular iron as a key determinant of the effects of oxidative stress on ribosomes. We propose that iron binding to specific ribosome elements primes rRNA for cleavages that may play a role in redox-sensitive tuning of the ribosome function in stressed cells.

  Iron-dependent cleavage of ribosomal RNA during oxidative stress in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

  Under oxidative stress

  the large subunit of the rRNA in yeast is cleaved. The cleavage is in early marker for oxidative stress

  but is not an indicator of cell death.

  Endonucleolytic cleavage in the expansion segment 7 of 25S rRNA is an early marker of low-level oxidative stress in yeast.

  Janetopoulos C

  Aufderheide KJ

  Bruist MF

  Shribak M

  A mechanical microcompressor for high resolution imaging of motile specimens

  The development of the RNA ‘vegetable’ aptamers

  Spinach and Broccoli

  has simplified RNA imaging

  especially in live cells. These RNA aptamers interact with a fluorophore (DFHBI or DFHBI-1T) to produce a green fluorescence signal. Although used in mammalian and Escherichia coli cells

  the use of these aptamers in yeast has been limited. Here we describe how the Saccharomyces cerevisiae snoRNA

  snR30

  was tagged with the Spinach or the Broccoli aptamers and observed in live cells. The ability to observe aptamer fluorescence in polyacrylamide gels stained with a fluorophore or with a microplate reader can ease preliminary screening of the aptamers in different RNA scaffolds. In snR30 a tandem repeat of the Broccoli aptamer produced the best signal in vitro. Multiple factors in cell preparation were vital for obtaining a good fluorescence signal. These factors included the clearance of the native unmodified snR30

  the amount and length of dye incubation and the rinsing of cells. In cells

  the aptamers did not interfere with the structure or essential function of snR30

  as the tagged RNA localized to the nucleolus and directed processing of ribosomal RNA in yeast. High-resolution images of the tagged snoRNA were obtained with live cells immobilized by a microcompressor.

  Live-cell imaging of small nucleolar RNA tagged with the broccoli aptamer in yeast

  This blog answers several questions about the relationship between the evolution of beer and the development of societies.

  How Drinking Beer Is in Our DNA: An Interview with Jessica Zinskie

  Jessica

  Jessica A Zinskie

  PhD

  LLC

  Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine

  CVS Pharmacy

  University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

  LI-COR Biosciences

  University of Scranton

  University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

  Stratford

  NJ

  Building on a previous discovery in my lab

  I uncovered the mechanism by which ribosomal RNA was degraded upon oxidative stress in budding yeast. Using a mutant strain

  I identified unique features of the cell that alter the cellular environment leading to hostile and some times deadly conditions.\n\nTo help the graduate students and post-doctoral researchers prepare for the next steps in their careers

  I organized Professional Development workshops for graduate students and Postdoctoral researchers. \n\nUsing my graduate school research experience

  I taught \"Optical methods to detect protein-protein and DNA-protein interactions I. Fluorescence spectroscopy\" lecture within the Biomolecular Interactions course to graduate (MS and PhD) students.

  Post Doctoral Researcher

  Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine

  University of the Sciences

  Teaching students through recitation classes and in a laboratory setting helped culminate my communication skills

  further my understanding of the various types of chemistry

  and allowed me to helped students further their academic careers. I have had amazing experiences working with students in that I not only taught them chemistry but I got them excited about it. By creating an environment of fun and positivity

  I was able to get students interested in the subject matter and do well in my class. \n\nBelow are examples of the different types of class that I have taught:\n\nLaboratory - General chemistry and analytical chemistry (~20 students)\n\nRecitation - General chemistry (~80 students)

  biochemistry and molecular biology and genetics (~230 students)

  and biochemistry (~60 students). \n\nI also tutored students in large groups and individually:\n\nGroup Tutor- Biochemistry and molecular biology and genetics. \n\nPrivate Tutor- Biochemistry

  molecular biology

  genetics

  pharmaceutical calculations

  pharmacokinetics

  and biopharmaceutics I and II.

  Graduate Student Instructor

  University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

  Greater Philadelphia Area

  As a Support Scientist

  I train scientists how to use the Odyssey imagers

  discussing best practices for producing quality Western Blots

  and troubleshooting their issues. I meet with scientists in academia

  pharma and biotech to help them produce the highest quality and reproducible blots.

  Solutions and Support scientist

  LI-COR Biosciences

  Philadelphia

  Pa

  In my free time

  I engage in independent opportunities related to science. Through these diverse roles

  I gained a lot of experience and knowledge about business from these contingency roles. Additionally

  these jobs helped me to better market myself as an independent contractor

  such that I formalized my own company

  Jessica A Zinskie

  Phd

  LLC.\n\nBelow are some highlights of my work:\n\nProfessional Speaker\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n -Created a 3-part presentation series about ancient beer

  wine

  and spirits that I present to a variety of audiences in the greater Philadelphia area\t\n\nContingency worker for Avenue Red Production Company\t\t\t\t\t\t\n -Designed and executed chemical reactions that were filmed by the Avenue Red production staff; the footage was used to produce a video montage for FMC Corporation.\n\nImaging consultant for Campbell's Soup\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n -Designed protocol to image and analyze the composition of multiple emulsion samples using fluorescence microscopy. \n\nContingency worker for Pharmachem

  Kearny

  NJ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n -Raised gavaged rats with a proprietary spice extract; blood and organs were collected and examined.\n\nAs means to improve my public speaking skills and learn how to properly relax

  I became a certified floor (YTT 200hours) and aerial yoga (AYTT 100hours) instructor through Kaya Aerial Yoga

  in Philadelphia.

  Independent Contractor

  Jessica A Zinskie

  PhD

  LLC

  Dickson City

  pa

  Working at CVS gave me my first insight to customer service in which I processed 35mm and digital photos for the photo department

  helped customers with questions

  and checked out customers at the cash register. Because of my interpersonal skills

  I was promoted to a shift supervisor in which I performed managerial tasks such as: counting the tills

  processing paperwork

  and interacting with customers when issues arose.\n\nAlthough this was a part-time job during college

  it helped recognize my strengths in verbal communication and my dedication to helping people. I had been recognized several times by the District manager in the form of praise and gift cards to CVS because of the feedback received from customers.

  Photo Technician and Shift Supervisor

  CVS Pharmacy

  Scranton

  Pennsylvania Area

  As an excited undergraduate student

  I compiled a 3 aim thesis project that required the participating of 8 students (undergraduate and graduate students from 2 universities). Through a collaboration I established with Marywood University

  I authored a funded grant that was used for my undergraduate research thesis. This project involved the analysis of hamster liver cell analysis

  raising and sacrificing hamsters and then blood/serum analysis. This project was massive and taught me a lot about laboratory techniques

  proper representation of data

  mentorship

  time management

  etc. I investigated the effects of plant-based food products (wine

  cranberry juice

  spice extract

  etc) on the metabolic profile of rats and hamsters.

  Undergraduate Researcher

  University of Scranton

  Using biophysical

  structural techniques I investigated the secondary and tertiary structures of several non-coding RNAs. This work required that I optimize the conditions for RNA transcription and isolation to produce large amounts of pure RNA.\n\nDuring this time

  I mentored a lab technician

  an intern

  and undergraduate and graduate students in the biophysical techniques.

  University of the Sciences in Philadelphia