Profile
Download .pdf Curriculum Vitae
Education
B.S. Biological Science, Humboldt State University, Arcata, California 2007
Ph.D. Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 2012 expected
Research Interests
In the broadest terms, I am an evolutionary biologist. I use comparative genomic and phylogenetic methods to study genetic innovation in microbial eukaryotes. Gene duplication and gene transfer are both major drivers of innovation. The effects of gene duplication are well studied in multicellular eukaryotes such as animals and land plants, whereas the impact of gene transfer has been best described in bacteria and archaea. The contribution of these two processes to the evolution of microbial eukaryotes is poorly understood, despite the fact that unicells represent the vast majority of eukaryotic evolutionary and functional diversity.
My dissertation research questions are in the areas of plastid (chloroplast) evolution and algal genomics. As part of my research, I use comparative phylogenomics to identify and quantify contrasting phylogenetic signals due to horizontal gene transfer in algae and evaluate different hypotheses regarding plastid evolution in these organisms. I also study kleptoplastidy (sequestration of temporary plastids stolen from prey) as a model for understanding the early events in plastid acquisition.
Employment History
Fall 2008 – Present: Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeships (IGERT) Fellow, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
Fall 2007 – Spring2008: Graduate teaching Assistant, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
Fall 2005 – Spring 2007: Biological Sciences Stockroom Assistant, Humboldt State University, Arcata, California, USA
Summers 2005 and 2006: Research Experience for Undergraduates Intern, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, USA
Publications
Wisecaver, J. H. and Hackett, J. D. 2011. Dinoflagellate genome evolution. Annual Reviews of Microbiology 65: PMID 21682644
Hackett, J. D., Wisecaver, J. H., Brosnahan, M. L., Kulis, D. M., Anderson, D.M. , et al. 2011. Independent evolution of saxitoxin synthesis in cyanbacteria and dinoflagellates. Molecular Biology and Evolution (in revision).
Wisecaver, J. H. and Hackett J. D. 2010. Transcriptome analysis reveals nuclear-encoded proteins for the maintenance of temporary plastids in the dinoflagellate Dinophysis acuminata, BMC Genomics 11:366.
Sullivan, M. B., Krastins, B., Hughes, J. L., Kelly, L., Chase, M., Sarracino, D., Chisholm, S. W. 2009. The genome and structural proteome of an ocean siphovirus: a new window into the cyanobacterial 'mobilome'. Environmental Microbiology 11: 2935-2951.
Hughes, J.L., and Siddall, M.E. 2007. A new species of leech from the New York Metropolitan Area. American Museum Novitates 3578: 1-6.
Presentations
Wisecaver, J. H., Brosnahan, M. L., Anderson, D. M., Bhattacharya, D., Erdner, D. L. and Hackett, J. D. Characterization of the Alexandrium transcriptome reveals unique nutrient utilization strategies in the dinoflagellate. Phycological Society of America Annual Meeting , Seattle, Washington, July 2011.
Wisecaver, J. H. and Hackett J. D. Transcriptome analysis reveals nuclear-encoded proteins for the maintenance of temporary plastids in the dinoflagellate Dinophysis acuminata. 14th International Conference on Harmful Algae, Hersonissos, Crete-Greece, November 2010
Wisecaver, J. H., Bhattacharya, D. and Hackett, J. D. POSTER. Quantifying the Plantae contribution to the nuclear genomes of chromalveolates: a phylogenomic analysis of Geminigera cryophila. Annual meeting of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution, Lyon, France, July 2010
Wisecaver, J. H., and J.D. Hackett. The plastid thief Dinophysis acuminata has nuclear-encoded genes for plastid maintenance and metabolite exchange. Ocean Sciences Meeting, Portland, Oregon, February 2010.
Hughes, J.L., and J.D. Hackett. POSTER Analysis of expressed genes in the toxic dinoflagellate, Dinophysis acuminata. Oceans & Human Health Gordon Research Conference, Tilton, New Hampshire, June 2008.
Hughes, J.L., P. Gabriel, and A.B. Baker. POSTER Allele frequency and variation of five microsatellite loci from Humboldt County urban-fringe Stellers jays, Cyanocitta stelleri. 19th Annual CSU Biotechnology Symposium, Los Angeles, California, January, 2007.
Grants
- Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant, National Science Foundation “Dissertation Research: Determining the role of horizontal gene transfer on plastid acquisition and endosymbiosis”, P.I. Jeremiah D. Hackett (2010-2011)
- Graduate and Professional Student Council travel grant, University of Arizona (2010)
- Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeships (IGERT) Fellowship, University of Arizona (2008-2011)
Awards and Honors
- Outstanding Scholarship Award, College of Science, University of Arizona (2011)
- Galileo Circle Scholarship, University of Arizona College of Science (2010)
- Honorable Mention, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (2009)
- Malcolm Oliphant Marine Science Scholarship, Humboldt State University (2005)
- Presidential Scholar, Humboldt State University (2004-2006)
Teaching Experience
- Teaching assistant, Evolutionary and Functional Genomics, University of Arizona, Fall 2011
- Teaching assistant, Marine Biology, University of Arizona, Spring 2008
- Teaching assistant, Ecology, University of Arizona, Fall 2007
- Teaching assistant, General Geology, Humboldt State University, Fall 2004 and 2005
Service
- Graduate student representative, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, 2010-2011
- Academic program review committee, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary, University of Arizona, 2009-2010
- Manuscript reviewer for Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad, 2007