Jessica Susanne Martinez

Doctoral Candidate in the Cell Molecular Biology Doctoral Program in the Department of Biological

Sciences at Florida State University (Projected Graduation Date: December 11, 2015)

Title of Dissertation: “Cell Adhesion and Motility on Biocompatible Polyelectrolyte Multilayers.” Major Professor: Dr. Thomas C. S. Keller III, Cell Molecular Biologist in the Department of Biological

Sciences at Florida State University

Collaborating Professor: Dr. Joseph B. Schlenoff, Polymer Chemist in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Florida State University

Contact Information: University Address: Florida State University Department of Biological Sciences Biological Research Facility Room 237 Dr. Thomas C.S Keller III Research Group Tallahassee, FL 32306

Home Address: 2316 Merrigan Place Tallahassee, FL 32309 Phone: 305-333-5659 E-mail: jmartinez@bio.fsu.edu

Education

Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL PhD Biological Sciences

Interdisciplinary Dissertation Research in collaboration with Dr. Joseph B. Schlenoff, Polymer Chemistry Research Group. Areas of Study: Cell Molecular Biology, Cell and Tissue Engineering, Cell-Substrate Interactions, Cell-Cell Interactions, Cell Adhesion Junctions, Cellular Adhesion and Motility, Substrate Biocompatibility, Cellular Mechanotaxis/Durotaxis, Collective Cell Migration, Cytotoxicity, Bacterial Adhesion and Motility, Bacterial Biofilm and

Extracellular Polymeric Matrix, Cellular and Bacterial Resistant Polymer Coatings, Biomedical Polymer Coatings, and Polymer Chemistry.

B.S Honors in Biological Sciences, Cum laude Minors in Chemistry and Mathematics Honors Thesis: “The Localization of Titin during Mitosis and its Co-localization with Tubulin, Actin, and Alpha-actinin within U2 and Hela CCL-2 Cells.” (Dr. Thomas C. S. Keller III, Cell Molecular Biology Research Group) Areas of Study: Cell Molecular Biology, Mammalian Tissue Culture, Protein Localization and Expression Analysis, Immunohistochemistry, Fluorescent and Light Microscopy.

Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High, Miami, FL Honors, High School Diploma Third highest GPA in Graduating High School Class (Top ten in Graduating Class)

2010-Present

2009

2005

Honors and Awards

Florida State University Graduate School Outreach Grant Florida State University Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award Florida State University Teaching Assistantship ASCB COMPASS Science Outreach Grant McKnight Dissertation Fellowship Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship Honorable Mention The Institute on Teaching and Mentoring Travel Award

2015 2014-2015 2011-2015

2014 2014 2014

2012-2014

Sponsoring Organization: Southern Regional Education Board

Attended as a Bridges Scholar Department of Biology Travel Award Congress of Student Government Presentation Grant ASCB MAC Travel Award

American Society of Cell Biology (ASCB) Minorities Affairs Committee (MAC)

Florida State University Dissertation Research Grant Award P.E.O Scholar Award Departmental Nominee

Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O) Florida State University Leslie N. Wilson-Delores Auzenne Graduate Assistantship for Minorities Departmental Nominee Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society Inductee Academic Excellence TRiO Scholar Award

Florida State University Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (C.A.R.E), Student Support Services Program (SSSP)

Florida Bright Futures Academic Scholarship

National Science & Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant Florida State University Freshman Incentive Scholarship

2011- 2014 2011- 2014 2011- 2014

2013 2013

2012

2009

2005-2009

2005-2009

2005-2009 2005-2006

Teaching Experience

Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL Department of Biological Sciences

Experimental Biology-BSC3402L Teaching assistant to professor in coordinating laboratory activities while mentoring students in designing and executing an independent research project. Oversee independent student research and evaluate their scientific analysis in a written and oral laboratory report. Animal Development-PCB4253L Teaching assistant to professor coordinating laboratory exercises, animal handling, and student evaluations. Oversee laboratory activities, and assist students with weekly experiments, while evaluating their scientific analysis in a written and oral laboratory report. Molecular Biology-PCB4024L Teaching assistant to professor in conducting help sessions, reviews, and weekly test assessments. Assist professor in coordinating laboratory activities, lectures, and evaluation of student performance and scientific analysis in a written and oral laboratory report. Directed Individual Studies-BSC4900 Laboratory supervisor responsible for training, mentoring, and coordinating student activities of independent research project within Dr. Thomas Keller's Laboratory. Cell Structure and Function-PCB3134 Teaching assistant to professor in conducting help sessions and weekly reviews. Assist professor in coordinating class activities, lectures, and evaluation of student performance. Anatomy and Physiology-BSC2085L

Laboratory instructor, conducting class lectures and managing laboratory exercises. Manage biweekly help sessions and evaluate student performances in laboratory course. Biology-BSC2010L Laboratory instructor, conducting class lectures and managing laboratory exercises. Experiments focus on molecular and genetic aspects of Biology. Manage biweekly sections and help sessions. Responsible for preparing laboratory exercises and evaluating student performance.

2013-2015

2012-2015

2013-2014

2010-2014

2011-2013

2011

2011

Mathematics and Science Tutor

Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (C.A.R.E) Developed student study skills and academic independence in subject areas of undergraduate level Mathematics, Sciences, English, and Social Sciences.

2007-2009

Professional Experience

Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL Department of Biological Sciences

Graduate Researcher Assistant

Cell Molecular Biology Doctoral Candidate (Principal Investigator-Dr. Thomas C.S Keller III) in the Department of Biological Sciences. Interdisciplinary Dissertation Research in collaboration with Polymer Chemistry Research Group (Principal Investigator Dr. Joseph B. Schlenoff ) investigating biological applications for polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMUs), thin biocompatible coatings. Potentially, PEMUs can be used to coat biomedical implants to create a surface that promotes more robust wound healing, tissue integration, while preventing post-operative infections. Principle Areas of Research: Adhesive and motile responses of bone (U2OS), smooth muscle (A7r5), fibroblast (3T3) cells and epithelial sheet cells, isolated from fish scales of Poecilia sphenops (Black Molly) and Carassius auratus (Comet Goldfish), on polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMUs), tunable biocompatible coatings. Our studies have shown PEMU stiffness gradients to induce gradient directed motility (durotaxis) of smooth muscle cells and induce changes in adhesive morphologies for all cell types. PEMU stiffness gradient also induce gradient directed collective cell migration in epithelial sheet cells. Our studies have shown these PEMUs to be biocompatible. Current research investigates bacterial adhesion on PEMUs with varying surface chemistry and nanoroughness. Independent of surface chemistry, cell resistant PEMUs have shown to promote bacterial adhesions and biofilm development with increasing nanoroughness, while cell adhesive PEMUs with a decreased surface nanoroughness have shown to be resistant to bacterial adhesion.

Completed construction of Dr. Joseph B. Schlenoff’s BSL-2 facility in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Florida State University. Continue to train user of BSL-2 and manage daily operations to ensure facility meets University Environmental Health and Safety regulations and guidelines. Published two first author manuscripts (2011 and 2013), one co-author manuscript (2015), four first author ASCB abstracts (2010-2014), and three co-author ACS abstracts (2010-2012). Completed three additional first author manuscripts (currently being edited for publication before December 2015).

Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Laboratory Assistant Biological Research Assistant in Dr. Joseph B. Schlenoff’s Polymer Chemistry Research

Group. Began building (from starch) Biosafety Level 1 & 2 cell culture facility for the group in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Managed the cell culture facility and trained chemistry graduate students in mammalian tissue culture to meet Environmental Health and Safety compliance. Researched cellular adhesive and cytotoxicity effects induced by Polyelectrolyte Multilayers (PEMUs) on smooth muscle cells.

2010-Present

2009-2010

Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

Department of Biological Sciences

Directed Individual Studies (DIS) Undergraduate Biology Student in Dr. Thomas C.S Keller III’s Research Group. Honors thesis investigated the co-localization of non-muscle titin proteins with cytoskeletal structural proteins tubulin, actin, and alpha-actinin during mammalian mitosis. My studies demonstrated a co-localization of titin proteins with mitotic spindle proteins during prophase, anaphase, and telophase highlighting the potential role of non-muscle cell titin in cell division. Trained in Biosafety level 1, 2 & 3 tissue culture, basic microbiology techniques, microscopy (Phase Contrast, Differential Interference Contrast (DIC), Epifluorescence), plasmid preparation, stable and transient transfections, transformations, polymerize chain reactions (PCRs), western blots, DNA sequencing, and immunohistochemistry.

Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (C.A.R.E) Tutorial Facility Assistant

Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (C.A.R.E). Managed and coordinated the night tutorial staff for the facility. I supervised tutors and students in the facility and clerical operations. I optimized tutor-student session through scheduling and tutoring session evaluations. I was also responsible for reporting student progress and retention statistics on a semester basis to C.A.R.E administrators and tutorial facility supervisor, Dr. Fabian Tata.

2007-2009

2007-2009

University Courses Relevant to Professional Experience

Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL Department of Biological Sciences

Prokaryotic Biology & Laboratory

Lecture course, 3 hours per week, discussing the structure and function of prokaryotes, their taxonomy and classification, metabolism and growth (fermentation, respiration, autotrophic metabolism), and prokaryotic genetics (transformation, transduction, conjugation). Medical microbiology was also discussed highlighting microbial disease mechanisms (focusing on important microbial diseases, epidemiology), defense mechanism of the human body against these microbes, food microbiology (food spoilage and preservation, use of microbes in the production of food), and industrial microbiology. In addition, this course covered viruses, highlighting viral replication, genetics, taxonomy and classification, and their structure and function. Laboratory course, 2 hours per week, focusing on sterile techniques and isolation of microbes, microscopic examination, and growth of microbes (media and media preparation, use of selective and differential media, enrichment cultures). Physiological testing of microbes included growth rates, potential for degradation of organic compounds, and identifying the presence of specific enzymatic capabilities. In the food microbiology segment of the lab course milk products were tested for presence of microbes and microbes were used to food production, making yogurt andsauerkraut. In the medical and clinical microbiology segment of the lab course human skin and throat microflora were isolated and tested for antibiotic susceptibility. Additionally, microbial genetics, microbial ecology (role of microbes in elemental cycles), and identification of unknown

microbes were also taught.

Immunology & Laboratory Lecture course, 3 hours per week, discussing non-specific defenses and inflammation, the immune response to foreign antigens, anatomy of the immune system and its development. Additionally, the course focused on the structure and function of immunoglobulin, the cellular interactions in immunity, histocompatibility and transplantation, complement and immunopathology (specifically AIDS). Laboratory course, 3 hours per week, focusing on immunization and bleeding of lab animals, titration, and purification of immunoglobulin through gel diffusion techniques, and immunoelectrophoresis. Tissue grafting,

enzymatic cleavage of immunoglobulins, affinity column chromatography, hemagglutination and its inhibition,

ELISA, immunofluorescence and hybridoma technology were also taught.

Biomedical Engineering & Cell and Tissue Engineering Lecture course, 3 hours per week, exploring the latest technology and research focusing on better understanding the dynamic between cells and their environments (in physiological and pathological states), development of novel methods for disease intervention, and the production of functional constructs for therapeutic applications. A specific area of focus was the use of stem cells in tissue engineering, neural tissue engineering, and extracellular matrix (ECM) production.

Introduction to Applied Statistics Lecture course, 3 hours per week, intended for non-statistics majors. This course was an introductory course on how to use R systems to analyze scientific data statistically. The course explored statistical problems with an applied approach teaching students how to use statistical software to evaluate and analyze scientific data. A specific area of focus was the use of our own generated scientific data to determine statistical significance and use quantitative analysis to infer information about our studies. Course topics focused on data collection, sample variation, basic probability, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, contingency

tables, correlation, regression, and nonparametric statistics.

Responsible Conduct of Research Lecture course, 3 hours per week, discussions focused on research and scholarly integrity in publications, data collection and sharing, and in collaborative research. This course highlighted potential violations of responsible conduct where conflict of interest was involved, in the use of human subjects, and in animal research. This course also highlighted the role of mentors and the importance of mentorship in academic research and provided an overview of peer review and its role in scientific integrity and ethics. This course taught responsible conduct of research for students in all disciplines of research and creativity.

Scientific Writing and Presentations Lecture course, 3 hours per week, focused on writing in the sciences and scientific presentation and posters. Throughout the course students worked on one of their current writing projects (dissertation chapter, research article, proposals, prospectus, or fellowship applications) and utilized peer and instructor evaluation to improve on their drafts. In-class presentations and poster construction were also evaluated by peers and the instructor to further improve talks and presentation of scientific findings. This course was a small-group environment where writing and speaking exercises were tailored to improve writing and communication skills with both scientific and non-scientific audiences.

Publications and Presentations

Publications

Sudhakara Rao Pattabhi, Jessica S. Martinez, Thomas C.S. Keller II (2014) Decellularized ECM effects on human mesenchymal stem cells stemness and differentiation. Differentiation 88 (4-5),131-143.

Jessica S. Martinez, Ali M. Lehaf, Joseph B. Schlenoff, and Thomas C.S Keller III (2013) Cell Durotaxis on Polyelectrolyte Multilayers with Photogenerated Gradients of Modulus. Biomacromolecules 14 (5), 1311-1320.

Jessica S. Martinez, Thomas C.S Keller III, and Joseph B. Schlenoff (2011) Cytotoxicity of Free versus Multilayered Polyelectrolytes. Biomacromolecules 12(11):4063-4070.

Manuscripts in Preparation for Publication Jessica S. Martinez, Thomas C.S Keller III, and Joseph B. Schlenoff “Cell Morphological Response to Native and Cross-linked Polyelectrolyte Multilayers.” (Currently being edited for publication before December 2015).

Jessica S. Martinez, Thomas C.S Keller III, and Joseph B. Schlenoff “Collective Cell Durotaxis of Primary Fish Scale Epithelial Tissue Explants on Polyelectrolyte Multilayers of Varying Modulus.” (Currently being edited for publication before December 2015).

Jessica S. Martinez, Kristopher Kelly, Thomas C.S Keller III, and Joseph B. Schlenoff “Cell Resistant Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Coatings Promote Escherichia coli Attachment.” (Currently being edited for publication before December 2015).

Presentations

Jessica S. Martinez; Joseph B. Schlenoff; and Thomas C. S. Keller III (2014) Collective Epithelial Cell Sheet Adhesion and Migration on Polyelectrolyte Multilayers with Uniform and Gradients of Compliance. Mol Biol Cell 25, 4299 (2042); (2014 ASCB Annual Meeting, Poster Abstract)

Jessica S. Martinez; Joseph B. Schlenoff; and Thomas C. S. Keller III (2013) Fish Scale Keratocyte Migration and Collective Epithelial Cell Sheet Durotaxis on Polyelectrolyte Multilayers with Compliance Gradients. Mol Biol Cell 24, 4299 (2042); (2013 ASCB Annual Meeting, Poster Abstract)

Jessica S. Martinez; Joseph B. Schlenoff; and Thomas C. S. Keller III (2012) Cell Type Specific Durotactic Response on Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Compliance Gradients. Mol Biol Cell 23, 4299 (2042); (2012 ASCB Annual Meeting, Poster Abstract)

Ali M. Lehaf ; Jessica S. Martinez; Maroun D. Moussallem; Thomas C. S. Keller III; and Joseph B. Schlenoff. (2012) Coatings from polyelectrolytes: Tuning surface properties for controlled cell fate. From Abstracts of Papers, 244th ACS National Meeting & Exposition, Philadelphia, PA, United States, August 19-23, 2012 (2012), PMSE 353.

Ali M. Lehaf; Maroun D. Moussallem; Jessica S. Martinez; Joseph B. Schlenoff; and Thomas C. S. Keller III (2011) Photo-crosslinkable polyelectrolyte multilayers: Enhanced mechanical properties for cell culture applications. From Abstracts of Papers, 242nd ACS National Meeting & Exposition, Denver, CO, United States, August 28-September 1, 2011 (2011), COLL-60.

Ali M. Lehaf; Maroun D. Moussallem; Jessica S. Martinez; Thomas C. S. Keller III; and Joseph B. Schlenoff (2010) Tuning the stiffness of polyelectrolyte multilayers by UV crosslinking. From Abstracts of Papers, 239th ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, United States, March 21-25, 2010 (2010), COLL-157

Jessica S. Martinez; Ali M. Lehaf; Joseph B. Schlenoff; and Thomas C. S Keller III (2010) Cell Response to Native and Cross-Linked Polyelectrolyte Multilayers. Mol Biol Cell 21, 4299 (2335); (2010 ASCB Annual Meeting, Poster Abstract)

Professional Development

Career Development Conferences, Programs, and Activities Professional Society Meetings and Mentoring Conferences American Society of Cell Biology (ASCB) Florida Education Foundation (F.E.F)

Compact for Faculty Diversity’s Institute on Teaching and Mentoring, Sponsoring Organization: Southern Regional Education Board.

Career Development and Mentoring Programs McKnight Fellowship NIGMS-MARC Bridges to the Professoriate Program. Florida State University Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) Program.

2010-Present

University and Community Outreach

Science Outreach and Science Education Events GWIS Newsletter I currently the lead writer for the GWIS Newsletter. The Newsletter is distributed throughout campus and we post and electronic version on our student organization website. The newsletter features articles about various topics important to graduate students in STEM fields. The last article discussed the topic regarding potential problem resolution strategies to utilize when a graduate student experiences a breach with their

faculty mentor. The newsletter gets lots of feedback from our readers and members through our social media and student organization website, which helps create a dialogue amongst community leaders and students. Art in STEM Research American Society of Cell Biology Committee of Postdocs and Students (ASCB COMPASS) funded my Science Outreach Grant Proposal to host an FSU STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) student Art Gallery Exhibit. Working with student members in Graduate Women in Science (GWIS), GEOSET studios, the FSU Dirac Library, the FSU Office of Research, the FSU Postdoctoral Fellows Association, the FSU Graduate School, The Cell and Molecular Graduate Student Association (TCGA),

2010-Present

2014-Present

and Congress of Graduate Students (COGS) we hosted the art exhibit in Spring 2015

show casing images taken by FSU STEM students conducting research on campus who captured the artistic beauty of scientific research. The event attracted a high volume of students in non-science majors, whom would normally not attend a science event on campus, and had the opportunity to learn more about STEM research and its broader impact to society through art. Over 72 students attended the opening reception and over 300 visited the event during the first day of the exhibit. Due to the success of the Art in STEM 2015 event, the FSU Graduate School funded a continuation of the Art in STEM outreach initiative. This outreach event will be hosted for the second time by GWIS during the Spring 2016 semester.

Natural Life Science Graduate Symposium Working with student members in Graduate Women in Science (GWIS), The Cell and Molecular Graduate Student Association (TCGA), and Congress of Graduate Students (COGS) we hosted the 1st Graduate Life Sciences Symposium where postdoctoral fellows and graduate students presented their scientific research on campus.

Career Development, Women in Science, and Science Diversity Events Career Women Panel Discussion Working with student members in GWIS, we promoted the reading of Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg, throughout campus in order to advocate for the need of more women in leadership roles. Spring 2014 we hosted the concluding event for the movement where a panel discussion about the book was held on campus. University Women leaders shared their own experiences and answered audience generated questions.

Girl Rising: Advocating for Global Education Working with student members in GWIS, the Center for Intensive English Studies (CIES), and the Center for International Studies in Educational Research and Development (CISERD), we helped spread awareness throughout campus about the need for Global Education, especially for young girls. We hosted a screening of Girl Rising followed by a panel discussion with Community and University Leaders working to create equal educational opportunities around the world. To promote the event, we handed out Blue Ribbons to students throughout campus for them to wear as a symbol advocating Global Education.

2014

2013-2014

2013

Professional Society Memberships and University Organizations

Professional Society Memberships McKnight Fellow American Society of Cell Biology (ASCB) Minorities Affairs Committee (MAC) Scholar NIGMS-MARC Bridges to the Professoriate Scholar American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society Sigma Delta Pi Hispanic Honor Society Golden Key Honor Society

University Organizations

Graduate Women in Science (GWIS) The Cell and Molecular Graduate Student Association (TCGA) Hispanic Graduate Student Association (HiGSA) Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (C.A.R.E) Florida State University Graduate Student Union Florida State University Alumni Association

Languages

English-Native Language Spanish-Second Language (proficient)