Jennifer Blickwedehl, Ph.D.

Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs

Office Location: Main Campus, Room 431

Biography

I came to Trocaire College in 2010 with several years of experience teaching and training a wide range of students from high school to pre-doctoral fellows. My research focused on how cancer cells respond to DNA damage and how faulty repair from radiation can promote cancer development. After earning my Ph.D. at University at Buffalo, I continued my research on the cellular response to DNA damage and also began teaching scientific research methods and cancer Biology topics at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY. My professional interests include anatomy & physiology, nutrition, curriculum and active instruction, and participating in Trocaire faculty initiatives. My favorite place is the classroom; I really enjoy engaging with my students on their expedition through science and the human body. My office door is always open and you are always welcome to stop by and chat about class, future goals or other things in life.

Education

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Immunology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, 2007-2010

Ph.D., State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY; 2007

Bachelor of Science, Molecular Biology, Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA; 2001

Courses Taught

BIO105 Human Biology
BIO109 Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology
BIO130 Anatomy and Physiology I
BIO130L Anatomy and Physiology I Lab
BIO 131 Anatomy and Physiology II
BIO131L Anatomy and Physiology II Lab
BIO205 Environmental Science
BIO208 Nutrition
BIO208HY Nutrition (hybrid online)
BIO223 Microbiology
BIO223HY Microbiology (hybrid online)

Research Experience

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY
Department of Immunology
Research Project: Proteasome Activator, PA200, in Tumor Growth and Radiation Responses

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY
Department of Immunology
Research Project: The response of Proteasome Activator200KD to DNA Damage

Publications

Blickwedehl, J., Olejniczak, S. H., Cummings, R., Sarvaiya, N., Manilla, A., Chanan-Khan, A., Pandita, T., Schmidt, M., Thompson, C. B., and Bangia, N. The proteasome activator PA200 regulates tumor cell responsiveness to glutamine and resistance to ionizing radiation. 2012. Molecular Cancer Research. Jul 10: (7):937-44.

Scott H. Olejniczak, Blickwedehl, J., Belicha-Villanueva, A., Bangia, N., Riaz, W., Mavis, C.,Clements, J., Gibbs, J., Hernandez-Ilizaliturri, F., and Czuczman, M. Distinct Molecular Mechanism Responsible for Bortezomib-Induced Death of Therapy-Resistant versus –Sensitive B-NHL Cells 2010. Blood.Dec 16: 116(25):5605-14.

Alan Belicha-Villanueva, Blickwedehl, J., McEvoy, S., Golding, M., Gollnick, S.G. and Bangia, N. What is the Role of Alternate splicing in Antigen Presentation by Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I Molecules? 2010. Immunologic Research. Mar; 46(1-3):32-11. Review.

Blickwedehl, J., Agarwal, M., Seong, C., Pandita, R.K., Melendy, T., Sung, P., Pandita T.K. and Bangia, N. A Role for Proteasome Activator PA200 and Postglutamyl Proteasome Activity in Genomic Stability. 2008. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. Oct 21; 105(42): 16165-70.

Blickwedehl, J., McEvoy, S., Wong, I., Kousis, P., Clements, J., Elliott, R., Cresswell, P., Liang, P. and Bangia, N. Proteasomes and Proteasome Activator 200kD (PA200) Accumulate on Chromatin in response to Ionizing Radiation. 2007. Radiation Research Jun; 167(6): 663-674.

Miscellaneous

Patricia A. Lavender Distinguished Educator Award, 2017
Innovator Educator of the year Award, 2015
Faculty Senate President, Trocaire College 2014-present
NIH training grant recipient, 2005-2007
Academy of Life Science Advisory Board Member for West Seneca Central Schools, 2012-present

I have a wonderful husband, two children and a 50lb golden retriever who thinks he is a lap dog. When I’m not on campus, I’m out with my very active family. I’m probably at a soccer field, baseball diamond or musical event.

I strongly believe that all students have learning strengths and weaknesses. Each semester, I explore these qualities in my students in order to teach them more effectively.