B.S., Loyola University Chicago
Ph.D., The University of Chicago
I earned a B.S. in Biology with Honors from Loyola University Chicago, including 2 years of undergraduate research in Dr. Jeffrey Doering’s lab focused on mapping heterochromatic regions on human chromosome 21 and its role in Down Syndrome. I earned a Ph.D. in Human Genetics at The University of Chicago in Dr. Nancy Cox’s lab focused on using modeling to study the genetic architecture of the human genome and its role in causing common and complex human diseases. I completed a one-year post-doctoral position in Dr. Elliot Gershon’s lab at The University of Chicago focused on using computational methods to identify genes involved in psychiatric disorders. In 2024, I completed a graduate certificate in Applied Bioinformatics from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. I was awarded the Faculty Achievement in Scholarship Award at USF in 2024-2025.
My research lab is currently focusing on understanding the evolution of genes found within the same biological pathway in the genus Drosophila. This project is in collaboration with Dr. Laura Reed at the University of Alabama – Tuscaloosa and the Genomics Education Partnership (www.thegep.org). Students use genome browsers, databases, and additional tools to annotate the coding sequence and promoter regions of newly sequenced genes in the pathway, and then make comparisons between species. Additional research projects using prokaryotic or eukaryotic organisms develop based upon student interest in the fields of molecular genetics or genomics.
Publications include the following (undergraduate authors from USF in bold):
1. Gruys ML, O’Brien J, Koehler AC, Almazan A, Opperman K, Sterne-Marr R, Ozsoy Z, Sustacek MK, Wittke-Thompson J, Arsham AM, Toering Peters S, Rele CP, Reed LK. (2025) Gene model for the ortholog of Ilp3 in Drosophila ananassae. microPublication Biology. 10.17912/micropub.biology.000958.
2. Lawson M, McAbee M, Lucas RA, Tanner S, Wittke-Thompson J, Pelletier TA, Ozsoy Z, Sterne-Marr R, Rele CP, Reed LK. (2024) Gene Model for the ortholog of Ilp5 in Drosophila ananassae. microPublication Biology. 10.17912/micropub.biology.000782
3. Johnson E, Kinney T, Luellen H, [63 undergraduate authors, including 8 from USF], Bieser KL, Croonquist P, Devergne O, Taylor EE, Wittke-Thompson JK, Kagey JD, Toering Peters S. (2024) Genetic mapping of prodE.3.3, a new lethal allele of prod. microPublication Biology 10.17912/micropub.biology.001236
4. Thomson L, Shah HP, [39 undergraduate authors, including 5 from USF], McCabe S, Pandit SS, Bieser K, Croonquist P, Taylor EE, Wittke-Thompson J, Kagey JD, Devergne O. (2024) Genetic mapping and phenotypic analysis of GstE14E.4.1 on eye and antennae development in Drosophila melanogaster. microPublication Biology 10.17912/micropub.biology.001019
5. Merkle JA, Devergne O, Kelly SM, Croonquist PA, Evans CJ, Hwalek MA, Straub VL, Hamill DR, Peister A, Puthoff DP, Saville KJ, Siders JL, Villanueva Gonzalez ZJ, Wittke-Thompson JK, Bieser KL, Stamm J, Vrailas-Mortimer AD, Kagey JD. (2023) Fly-CURE, a multi-institutional CURE using Drosophila, increases students’ confidence, sense of belonging, and persistence in research. J Microbiol Biol Educ 24(3):e00245-22.
6. Lopatto D, Silver Key SC, Van Stry M, Siders J, Leung W, Sandlin KM, Rele CP, The Genomics Education Partnership (100+ authors), Reed LK. (2023)
Supporting the democratization of science during a pandemic: genomics Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) as an effective remote learning strategy. J Microbiol Biol Educ 24(3):e00039-23.
7. Martinez M, Wachowski M, Zaragoza M, & Wittke-Thompson JK (2019) The presence of bla1, bla-SHV and bla-TEM in ampicillin resistant bacteria from agricultural soil samples. Bios 90(4): 257-262.
8. Ortega M & Wittke-Thompson JK. (2014) Study of Thiomicrospira crunogena’s carbon concentrating mechanism through the random mutagenesis and characterization of its mutants. Bios 85(2): 111-116.
Selected presentations include the following (undergraduate authors in bold):
1. Dvorak M, Wittke-Thompson JK (2025). Evolution of p38a, p38c, and whd in two Drosophila species. Genomics Education Partnership Midwest Node Meeting, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL.
2. Mireles S, Wittke-Thompson JK (2023). Evolutionary comparison of SkpA. Genomics Education Partnership Midwest Node Meeting, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL.
3. Geatches E, Vazquez J, Wittke-Thompson JK (2022). An annotation of three venom genes in L. heterotoma. Genomics Education Partnership Midwest North and South Node Meeting, University of Detroit-Mercy, Detroit, MI.
4. Laskowski L, Cook B, Wittke-Thompson JK. (2020) Comparison of the coding sequence of raptor in 27 Drosophila species. Midwest Drosophila Conference, Indiana University Bloomington (virtual), IN.
5. Rozwadowski N, Wittke-Thompson JK. (2019) Annotation of a contig from Drosophila takahashii on chromosome 3L. Board of Trustees Meeting, University of St. Francis, IL.
6. Milewski D, Wittke-Thompson JK. (2019) DNA sequencing Actin 5c and CO1 genes in the genus Salticus to assess familial divergence. ACCA Student Symposium, Benedictine University, IL.
7. Uraski R, Wittke-Thompson JK. (2017) Genetic characterization of Orconectes rusticus in Joliet, Illinois using AFLPs. TriBeta Regional Meeting, Bradley University, IL.
8. Pedone S, Wittke-Thompson JK. (2016) The effect of oxidative stress on the transcription rate of cardiolipin synthase in yeast. USF Winter Science Symposium, University of St. Francis, IL.
9. Kodron T, Wittke-Thompson JK. (2015) Creation and characterization of phnE mutants in Thiomicrospira crunogena. ACCA Student Symposium, Concordia University, IL.
10. Volkmer K, Wittke-Thompson JK. (2014) Phosphonate pathway in Thiomicrospira crunogena. TriBeta Regional Meeting, St. Xavier University, IL.
11. Ortega M, Wittke-Thompson JK. (2013) Study of Thiomicrospira crunogena’s carbon concentrating mechanism through the random mutagenesis and characterization of its mutants. ACCA Student Symposium, Elmhurst College, IL.
12. Pendleton C, Wittke-Thompson JK. (2012) Population genetics of crayfish in three streams surrounding Joliet, IL. ACCA Student Symposium 2012, Elmhurst College, IL.
I primarily teach BIOL 160 Cell Biology, BIOL 255 Genetics, BIOL 322 Molecular Biology, and BIOL 375/376 Advanced Investigative Experiences in Biology. Additionally, I also routinely teach BIOL 116 Life Science for Educators, BIOL 345 Perspectives in Evolution, and BIOL 410 Senior Seminar.
