NOAA-EPP LMRCSC Doctoral Graduate
Ph.D., Marine, Estuarine & Environmental Science
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Jorge J. Rodriguez received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus. Prior to entering the Doctor of Philosophy program, he completed a Master of Science degree in Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES). Thereafter, he enrolled in a Ph.D. degree program at UMES in the Marine Estuarine Environmental Sciences (MEES) program specializing in Environmental Molecular Biology/Biotechnology. His research focused on host-pathogen interactions in the blue mussel. Under the advisement of Dr. Anthony K. Nyame and Dr. April Croxton he investigated the potential role of glycans in host-pathogen interactions. The ultimate goal of their work is to establish molecular markers that can be used to assess the blue mussels’ susceptibility to infection by pathogens and how these markers may be affected by environmental stressors. Jorge completed his Ph.D. degree in spring 2019, and is currently working at Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Maryland as a Biologist.
NERTO Project Title: Use of density step gradient centrifugation and differential lectin binding to characterize Mytilus edulis hemocyte subpopulations by flow cytometry
NOAA Mentor: Dr. Gary Wikfors and Dr. April Croxton, NOAA NEFSC, Milford Lab, CT
Academic Advisor: Dr. Anthony K. Nyame
Publications/Presentations
Jorge Rodriguez (2019). Use of glycan epitopes to characterize Mytilus edulis hemocytes and their interactions with Proctoeces maculatus and Himasthla quissetensis. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
