Anna C. Nelson Dittrich
Department of Biochemistry and BiophysicsPhone: (979) 845-2600
Texas A&M UniversityEmail:
College Station, TX 77843
EDUCATION
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX2006 –2012
Ph.D. Biochemistry
GPA: 3.90/4.00
Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Weatherford, OK2002 – 2006
B.S. Biology (minor chemistry)
GPA: 3.92/4.00
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Protein phosphorylation and signal transduction pathways, cell death regulation, comparative andevolutionary 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 Biology2012 – Present
Postdoctoral researcher (PI: Noah Whiteman)
Main project: Evolutionary biochemistry of mustard oil detoxification in the Drosophilidae
Other projects: Thermal ecology of plant-herbivore interactions
Texas A&M University–Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics2006 – 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 Physics2005 – 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 Sciences2004 – 2006
Undergraduate research assistant (PI: MuatasemUbeidat)
Project: Investigation of 5’-nucleotidase localization and activity in Dictyosteliumdiscoideum.
Southwestern Oklahoma State University–Department of Biological Sciences2004 – 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 University2010 – 2012
Mentor to undergraduate research assistant
Three semesters mentoring an undergraduate researcher, Austin Rivera
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 University2007 – 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 studentswith development of an original research proposal (ORP) that is presented at the end of their first year
Ubeidat lab–Southwestern Oklahoma State University2005 – 2006
Mentor to undergraduate research assistants
Provide advice and assistance to several new undergraduate researchers
Project: Investigation of 5’-nucleotidase localization and activity in Dictyosteliumdiscoideum.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics– Texas A&M University2011
Teaching Assistant for Donald Pettigrew–BICH 410 (Comprehensive biochemistry I) lecture
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics– Texas A&M University2010
Teaching Assistant for Bryant Miles–BICH 411 (Comprehensive biochemistry II) lecture
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics– Texas A&M University2009
Teaching Assistant for Bill Park –BICH 411 (Comprehensive biochemistry II) lecture
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics– Texas A&M University2008
Teaching Assistant for Leisha Mullins–BICH 411 (Comprehensive biochemistry II) lecture
Department of Biological Sciences– Southwestern Oklahoma State University 2005
Teaching Assistant for MuatasemUbeidat–BIOL 3254 (Genetics) laboratory
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 academicexcellence 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 excellenceaward for 2009, Texas A&M Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
2008: Third place, Biochemistry and Biophysics departmentalresearch 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
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 judge2012
American Society of Plant Biologists member2011 – present
QPR Suicide Prevention, certified gatekeeper2011 – present
Reviewed manuscripts: FEBS Lett, J Biol Chem, PlantPhysiolBiochem2010-2012
Laboratory Management and Conflict Resolution workshop participant, Texas A&M University2010
Biochemistry Original Research Proposal volunteer, Texas A&M University2007 – 2012
Biochemistry graduate student recruiting volunteer, Texas A&M University2007 – 2012
Biochemistry Graduate Association member, Texas A&M University2006 – 2012
Molecular and Cellular Biology training program, Texas A&M University2006 – 2007
National Honor Society member2005 – 2006
Weatherford blood testing clinic volunteer, Southwestern Oklahoma State University2004 – 2006
Biology Club member, Southwestern Oklahoma State University2003 – 2006
PUBLICATIONS
Nelson Dittrich AC, Devarenne TP (2012) Perspectives in PDK1 evolution: insights from photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic 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 Physiology158: 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. BiochimicaetBiophysicaActa 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: 11-23.
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 telomerecapping complexand negative regulator of telomerase activityin Arabidopsis thaliana.
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 mossPhyscomitrella 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.” Biochemistrystudent 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 Dictyosteliumdiscoideum 5’ nucleotidase.” Oklahoma Research Day for Regional Universities.Spring 2006, Oklahoma State Capitol Building (Oklahoma City, OK).
2005: “Dictyosteliumdiscoideum 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:
Timothy Devarenne, Texas A&M University
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
300 Olsen Blvd.
College Station, TX 77840
Phone: (979) 862-6509
E-mail:
Bill Park, Texas A&M University
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
300 Olsen Blvd.
College Station, TX 77840
Phone: (979) 845-8868
E-mail:
Michael Polymenis, Texas A&M University
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
300 Olsen Blvd.
College Station, TX 77840
Phone: (979) 458-3259
E-mail:
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