Education
Kesmic Jackson
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Biochemistry, December 2006
Tulane University, Department of Biochemistry
Dissertation title: DNA methylation analysis of D4Z4 repeats in the FSHD syndrome-linked 4q35 region and in regions showing cancer-specific or ICF syndrome-specific alterations
B.S. in Chemistry, magna cum laude, May 2001
Alcorn State University, Department of Chemistry and Physics
Magna Cum Laude
EXPERIENCE
Biology lecturer: BIOL 3800, BIOL 3810, and 1103K (2009 – present)
Department of Biology, Georgia State University; Atlanta, GA
• Prepare course syllabi
• Prepare and deliver course lectures
• Design application-based assessments
• Design and assign presentation and writing assignments (case studies and reports)
• Administer and grade quizzes and exams
• Teach students to think critically about experimental data and communicate scientifically
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Fellowships in Research and Science Teaching (FIRST) Program (2008 – 2009)
• Department of Hematology/Oncology, Emory University Winship Cancer Center; Atlanta, GA
• Identified prognostic markers and therapeutic targets in ovarian cancer cells and tissue
• Utilized mammalian cell culture (including growth and dose curves), Western blot analysis, RT-PCR, real-time
RT-PCR, wound and invasion assays, cloning techniques, DNA and RNA isolation, SNP analysis, and bacterial
cell culture
*Jackson, K.A., Oprea, G., Handy, J., Kimbro, K.S. (2009) Aberrant STYK1 expression in ovarian cancer tissues and cell lines. J Ovarian Res. 2(1):15.
Fellowships in Research and Science Teaching (FIRST) Program (2007 – 2008)
Department of Pediatrics, Emory University Aflac Cancer Center & Blood Disorder Services; Atlanta, GA
• Studied the ontogeny of Sickle Cell disease nephropathy
• Utilized mouse dissection, immunohistochemistry, fluorescence microscopy, blood plasma isolation, Western blot analysis, and mammalian cell culture
Department of Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine; Atlanta, GA (2006 -2007)
• Developed a hepatitis C virus (HCV) core mouse model with targeted expression to the heart for oxidative stress studies in the heart of a subsequent HCV/HIV co-infection mouse model as it relates to HCV, HIV, and antiretroviral therapy
• Utilized Southern blot and dot blot analysis (α-32P dCTP used for radioactive labeling), PCR, bacterial cell culture (transformation), cloning techniques, and DNA isolation
• Supervised and trained laboratory technicians in performing molecular biology techniques
Doctoral Research Fellow (2001 – 2006)
Department of Biochemistry, Tulane University; New Orleans, LA
• Analyzed the DNA methylation levels of highly repetitive sequences in cancer and muscular dystrophy (FSHD) tissue and cells
• Utilized Southern blot and slot blot analysis (α-32P dCTP used for radioactive labeling), PCR, mammalian cell culture, bacterial cell culture (transformation), and DNA isolation from human blood, tissue, and cells (including agarose plug preparation)
• Identified a significant association between satellite 2 DNA hypomethylation and breast carcinogenesis
*Jackson K., Yu M., Fiala E., Youn B., Müller H.M., Widschwendter M., and Ehrlich M. Hypomethylation of satellite DNA and global genomic hypomethylation is prevalent in both low- and high-grade breast cancer. Cancer Biology and Therapy 2004;3(12):1225-1231.
• Developed a highly specific Southern blot hybridization probe for analysis of chromosome 4-
and 10- specific D4Z4 repeats
*Melanie Ehrlich, Kesmic Jackson, Koji Tsumagari, Pilar Camano, and Richard J.F.L. Lemmers. Hybridization analysis of D4Z4 repeat arrays linked to FSHD. Chromosoma 2007;116(2):107-116.
• Identified a significant association between D4Z4 hypomethylation and degree of malignancy in ovarian cancers, low malignancy potential tumors, and cystadenomas
*Tsumagari, Koji; Qi, Lixin; Jackson, Kesmic; Shao, Chunbo; Lacey, Michelle; Sowden, Janet; Tawil, Rabi; Vedanarayanan, Vettaikorumakankav; Ehrlich, Melanie. Epigenetics of a tandem DNA repeat: chromatin DNaseI sensitivity and cancer hyper- and hypomethylation. Nucleic Acids Res. 2008 Apr;36(7):2196-2207.
• Demonstrated a difference in methylation of D4Z4 repeats within the repeat array in normal tissues and cancers
*Tsumagari, Koji; Qi, Lixin; Jackson, Kesmic; Shao, Chunbo; Lacey, Michelle; Sowden, Janet; Tawil, Rabi; Vedanarayanan, Vettaikorumakankav; Ehrlich, Melanie. Epigenetics of a tandem DNA repeat: chromatin DNaseI sensitivity and cancer hyper- and hypomethylation. Nucleic Acids Res. 2008 Apr;36(7):2196-2207.
• Demonstrated an individual-specific degree of methylation of D4Z4 repeat arrays
*Melanie Ehrlich, Kesmic Jackson, Koji Tsumagari, Pilar Camano, and Richard J.F.L. Lemmers. Hybridization analysis of D4Z4 repeat arrays linked to FSHD. Chromosoma 2007;116(2):107-116.
Ph.D. in Biochemistry, December 2006
Tulane University, Department of Biochemistry
Dissertation title: DNA methylation analysis of D4Z4 repeats in the FSHD syndrome-linked 4q35 region and in regions showing cancer-specific or ICF syndrome-specific alterations
B.S. in Chemistry, magna cum laude, May 2001
Alcorn State University, Department of Chemistry and Physics
Magna Cum Laude
EXPERIENCE
Biology lecturer: BIOL 3800, BIOL 3810, and 1103K (2009 – present)
Department of Biology, Georgia State University; Atlanta, GA
• Prepare course syllabi
• Prepare and deliver course lectures
• Design application-based assessments
• Design and assign presentation and writing assignments (case studies and reports)
• Administer and grade quizzes and exams
• Teach students to think critically about experimental data and communicate scientifically
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Fellowships in Research and Science Teaching (FIRST) Program (2008 – 2009)
• Department of Hematology/Oncology, Emory University Winship Cancer Center; Atlanta, GA
• Identified prognostic markers and therapeutic targets in ovarian cancer cells and tissue
• Utilized mammalian cell culture (including growth and dose curves), Western blot analysis, RT-PCR, real-time
RT-PCR, wound and invasion assays, cloning techniques, DNA and RNA isolation, SNP analysis, and bacterial
cell culture
*Jackson, K.A., Oprea, G., Handy, J., Kimbro, K.S. (2009) Aberrant STYK1 expression in ovarian cancer tissues and cell lines. J Ovarian Res. 2(1):15.
Fellowships in Research and Science Teaching (FIRST) Program (2007 – 2008)
Department of Pediatrics, Emory University Aflac Cancer Center & Blood Disorder Services; Atlanta, GA
• Studied the ontogeny of Sickle Cell disease nephropathy
• Utilized mouse dissection, immunohistochemistry, fluorescence microscopy, blood plasma isolation, Western blot analysis, and mammalian cell culture
Department of Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine; Atlanta, GA (2006 -2007)
• Developed a hepatitis C virus (HCV) core mouse model with targeted expression to the heart for oxidative stress studies in the heart of a subsequent HCV/HIV co-infection mouse model as it relates to HCV, HIV, and antiretroviral therapy
• Utilized Southern blot and dot blot analysis (α-32P dCTP used for radioactive labeling), PCR, bacterial cell culture (transformation), cloning techniques, and DNA isolation
• Supervised and trained laboratory technicians in performing molecular biology techniques
Doctoral Research Fellow (2001 – 2006)
Department of Biochemistry, Tulane University; New Orleans, LA
• Analyzed the DNA methylation levels of highly repetitive sequences in cancer and muscular dystrophy (FSHD) tissue and cells
• Utilized Southern blot and slot blot analysis (α-32P dCTP used for radioactive labeling), PCR, mammalian cell culture, bacterial cell culture (transformation), and DNA isolation from human blood, tissue, and cells (including agarose plug preparation)
• Identified a significant association between satellite 2 DNA hypomethylation and breast carcinogenesis
*Jackson K., Yu M., Fiala E., Youn B., Müller H.M., Widschwendter M., and Ehrlich M. Hypomethylation of satellite DNA and global genomic hypomethylation is prevalent in both low- and high-grade breast cancer. Cancer Biology and Therapy 2004;3(12):1225-1231.
• Developed a highly specific Southern blot hybridization probe for analysis of chromosome 4-
and 10- specific D4Z4 repeats
*Melanie Ehrlich, Kesmic Jackson, Koji Tsumagari, Pilar Camano, and Richard J.F.L. Lemmers. Hybridization analysis of D4Z4 repeat arrays linked to FSHD. Chromosoma 2007;116(2):107-116.
• Identified a significant association between D4Z4 hypomethylation and degree of malignancy in ovarian cancers, low malignancy potential tumors, and cystadenomas
*Tsumagari, Koji; Qi, Lixin; Jackson, Kesmic; Shao, Chunbo; Lacey, Michelle; Sowden, Janet; Tawil, Rabi; Vedanarayanan, Vettaikorumakankav; Ehrlich, Melanie. Epigenetics of a tandem DNA repeat: chromatin DNaseI sensitivity and cancer hyper- and hypomethylation. Nucleic Acids Res. 2008 Apr;36(7):2196-2207.
• Demonstrated a difference in methylation of D4Z4 repeats within the repeat array in normal tissues and cancers
*Tsumagari, Koji; Qi, Lixin; Jackson, Kesmic; Shao, Chunbo; Lacey, Michelle; Sowden, Janet; Tawil, Rabi; Vedanarayanan, Vettaikorumakankav; Ehrlich, Melanie. Epigenetics of a tandem DNA repeat: chromatin DNaseI sensitivity and cancer hyper- and hypomethylation. Nucleic Acids Res. 2008 Apr;36(7):2196-2207.
• Demonstrated an individual-specific degree of methylation of D4Z4 repeat arrays
*Melanie Ehrlich, Kesmic Jackson, Koji Tsumagari, Pilar Camano, and Richard J.F.L. Lemmers. Hybridization analysis of D4Z4 repeat arrays linked to FSHD. Chromosoma 2007;116(2):107-116.