The Sekelsky Lab Former Postdocs

Former Postdoctoral Fellows

Dates:

May 2019 - July 2024

Publications:

E.B Dewey, J. Korda Holsclaw, K. Saghaey, K. Wittmer, and J. Sekelsky (2023) The effect of repeat length on Marcal1-dependent single-strand annealing in Drosophila. Genetics 223: iyac164.
N. Deger, X. Cao, C.P. Selby, S. Gulec, H. Kawara, E.B. Dewey, L. Wang, Y. Yang, S. Archibald, B. Selcuk, O. Adebali, J. Sekelsky, A. Sancar, Z. Liu (2022) CSB-independent, XPC-dependent transcription-coupled repair in Drosophila. PNAS 119: e2123163119.
C. Kose, X. Cao, E.B. Dewey, M. Malkoç, O. Adebali, J. Sekelsky, L.A. Lindsey-Boltz, A. Sancar (2024) Cross-species investigation into the requirement of XPA for nucleotide excision repair. Nucleic Acids Res. 52: 677-689.
C.C. Bereda, E.B. Dewey, M.A. Nasr, and J. Sekelsky (2024) Functions of the Bloom Syndrome helicase N-terminal intrinsically disordered region. bioRxiv.

Awards:

Best talk award, UNC Genetics Scientific Retreat (2023).
Integrated Training in Cacner Model Systems Training Program (2019-2021).

Teaching and Mentoring:

BIOL 205 - Cell and Developmental Biology (Spring 2023)
Research mentor for four UNC Biology undergraduate researchers (three Senior Honors Theses)
Research mentor two summer undergraduates researchers
Research mentor for three high school students from North Carolina School of Science and Math

Current Position:

Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
Winthrop University

Nicole Crown

Dates:

August 2011 - May 2018

Publications:

K.N. Crown and J. Sekelsky (2013) Gene targeting in Drosophila goes the distance. Genetics 193: 377-381.
K.N. Crown, S. McMahan, and J. Sekelsky (2014) Eliminating both canonical and short-patch mismatch repair in Drosophila suggests a new meiotic recombination model. PLoS Genetics 10: e1004583.

Awards:

Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center Postdoctoral Fellowship in Basic Sciences (2012-2013).
NRSA postdoctoral fellowship (2013-2015).
Best talk award, UNC Dept of Genetics and GMB Scientific Retreat at the Beach (2013).
K99 Pathway to Independence grant (priority score of 14) from NIGMS (2016-2018).

Leadership:

Co-Chair, Gordon-Kenan Reasearch Seminar, 2014.

Current Position:

Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
Case Western Reserve University
Crown lab website

Lydia Morris

Dates:

January 2013 - April 2016

Awards:

Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center Postdoctoral Fellowship in Basic Sciences (2013).
Oustanding poster award, UNC Dept of Genetics and GMB Scientific Retreat at the Beach (2013).
Ruth L. Kirchstein NRSA F32 postdoctoral fellowship from the NIH (2014-2016).

Current Position:

Senior Regulatory Writer, Novartis

Eric Stoffregen

Dates:

August 2011 - July 2014

Awards:

SPIRE Postdoctoral Fellow.

Current Position:

Associate Professor
Lewis-Clark State College.
Eric's lab website

Kenny Kuo

Dates:

July 2009 - August 2012

Publications:

H.K. Kuo, S. McMahan, C. Rota, K.P. Kohl, and J. Sekelsky (2014) Drosophila FANCM helicase prevents spontaneous mitotic crossovers generated by the MUS81 and SLX1 nucleases. Genetics 198: 935-945.
S.L. Andersen, H.K. Kuo, D. Savukoski, M.H. Brodsky, and J. Sekelsky (2011) Three structure-selective endonucleases are essential in the absence of BLM helicase in Drosophila. PLoS Genetics 7: e1002315.

Current Position:

Teaching Assistant Professor
NC State University.

Dan Bergstralh

Dates:

March 2007 - April 2008

Publications:

D.T. Bergstralh and J. Sekelsky (2008) Interstrand crosslink repair: can XPF-ERCC1 be let off the hook? Trends Genet. 24: 70-76.
S.L. Andersen*, D.T. Bergstralh*, K.P. Kohl, J.R. LaRocque, C.B. Moore, and J. Sekelsky (2009) Drosophila MUS312 and the vertebrate ortholog BTBD12 interact with DNA structure-specific endonucleases in DNA repair and recombination. Molecular Cell 35: 128-135.
*equal contributions

Awards:

Postdoctoral fellowship in basic sciences from the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

Current Position:

Associate Professor
Biological Sciences,
University of Missouri
Finnegan Bergstralh lab website

Heather Yarnall Schultz

Dates:

Sept 2003 - Sept 2005

Awards:

American Cancer Society postdoctoral fellowship.
Postdoctoral fellowship in basic sciences from the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

Current Position:

Manager, Medical Writing at Syneos Health

Mitch McVey

Dates:

Sept 2001 - August 2005

Publications:

M.D. Adams, M. McVey, and J. Sekelsky (2003) Drosophila BLM in double-strand break repair by synthesis-dependent strand annealing.Science 299: 265-267.
M. McVey, M.D. Adams, E. Staeva-Vieira, and J. Sekelsky (2004) Evidence for multiple cycles of strand invasion during repair of double-strand gaps in Drosophila. Genetics 167: 699-705.
M. McVey, J. LaRocque, M.D. Adams, and J. Sekelsky (2004) Formation of deletions during double-strand break repair in Drosophila DmBlm mutants occurs after strand invasion. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101: 15694-15699.
M. McVey, D. Radut, and J. Sekelsky (2004) End-joining repair of double-strand breaks in Drosophila is largely DNA ligase IV-independent. Genetics 168:2067-2076.
M. McVey, S.L. Andersen, Y. Broze, and J. Sekelsky (2007) Multiple functions of the Drosophila Blm helicase in maintaining genome stability. Genetics 176: 1979-1992.

Awards:

Joseph Pagano award for best publication by a postdoctoral fellow, 2nd place (2003)

Current Position:

Professor of Biology
Tufts University
Mitch's lab website

Hutton Kearney

Dates:

June 2001 - August 2003

Publication:

H. Blanton, S.J. Radford, H. Kearney, S. McMahan, J. Ibrahim, and J. Sekelsky (2005) REC, Drosophila MCM8, drives formation of meiotic crossovers. PLoS Genetics 1: e40.

Awards:

NRSA postdoctoral fellowship

Current Position:

Vice Chair, Hereditary Genomics
Division of Laboratory Genetics and Genomics
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, MN

Melissa Adams

Dates:

August 2000 - August 2003

Publications:

M.D. Adams and J. Sekelsky (2002) From sequence to phenotype: reverse genetics in Drosophila melanogaster. Nature Rev. Genetics 3: 3:189-198.
M.D. Adams, M. McVey, and J. Sekelsky (2003) Drosophila BLM in double-strand break repair by synthesis-dependent strand annealing.Science 299: 265-267.
M. McVey, M.D. Adams, E. Staeva-Vieira, and J. Sekelsky (2004) Evidence for multiple cycles of strand invasion during repair of double-strand gaps in Drosophila. Genetics 167: 699-705.

Awards:

American Cancer Society postdoctoral fellowship
Joseph Pagano award for best publication by a postdoctoral fellow, 2nd place (2003)

Current Position:

Program Manager
Cell and Gene Therapy
Benecyte, Inc.

Samarpan Majumder

Dates:

May 2000 - December 2002

Publication:

Ö. Yιldιz, S. Majumder, B.C. Kramer, and J. Sekelsky (2002) Drosophila MUS312 protein interacts physically with the nucleotide excision repair endonuclease MEI-9 to generate meiotic crossovers. Molecular Cell 10: 1503-1509.

Current Position:

Assistant Professor
Genetics
LSU Health
Samarpan's bio page