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Jason F. Flores, Ph.D.

Teaching Associate Professor

Life Science First Year Program

Park Faculty Mentor

jason_flores@ncsu.edu

Professional Bio: After spending nearly 15 years studying the physiology, biochemistry and ecology of marine organisms (Tursiops truncatus, Idotea balthica, Umbellula lidahli, Ridgeia piscesae, Riftia pachyptila, Crassostrea virginica) in amazing places (Charleston, Fiskebäckskil, Monterey, Juan de Fuca Ridge, East Pacific Rise), and even going to the bottom of the ocean (2500m) in the DSV Alvin twice, I decided to transition my career and take my passion for science and apply it to teaching college students. Now in my 10th year of teaching at the college level, I have spent most of that time teaching first year students in introductory biology as well as courses related to my prior research career. I am currently an instructor in the Life Science First Year Program here at NC State and enjoy getting to know and helping to educate the students who enroll in that program.

Academic Degrees

  • Ph.D., Biology, The Pennsylvania State University (2005)
  • M.S., Marine Science, San Francisco State University (2000)
  • B.S., Marine Science, College of Charleston (1995)

Courses Taught

  • LSC 101 – Critical and Creative Thinking in the Life Sciences
  • BIO 183 – Introductory Biology
  • BIO 250 – Animal Anatomy and Physiology
  • SummerStart – The Science of Change

Previous Distinctions and Positions

  • National Academies Education Mentor in the Life Sciences
  • National Academies Education Fellow in the Life Sciences
  • University Faculty Fellow – UNC Charlotte
  • Director, Joint Undergraduate Mentoring Program – UNC Charlotte
  • Post-Doctoral Research Fellow – UNC Charlotte
  • Sloan Foundation Scholar– Penn State
  • DSRD Research Intern – Monterey Bay Aquarium

Selected Publications (Follow Dr. Flores on Google Scholar Citations)

      1. Carney SL, Flores JF, Orobona KM, Butterfield DA, Fisher CR, Schaeffer SW. (2007). Environmental differences in hemoglobin gene expression in the hydrothermal vent tubeworm, Ridgeia piscesae. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology – Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 146(3):326-337.
      2. Flores JF and Hourdez SM. (2006). The zinc-mediated sulfide-binding mechanism of hydrothermal vent tubeworm 400-kDa hemoglobin. Les Cahiers de Biologie Marine. 47(4):371-377.
      3. Andersen AC, Flores JF, and Hourdez SM . (2006). Comparative branchial plume biometry between two extreme ecotypes of the tubeworm Ridgeia piscesae. The Canadian Journal of Zoology. 84(12):1810-1822.
      4. Lannig G, Flores J and Sokolova I. (2006). Pollution reduces temperature tolerance in oysters. Aquatic Toxicology. 79(3):278-287.
      5. Flores JF, Fisher CR, Carney SL, Green BN, Freytag JK, Schaeffer SW and Royer WE . (2005). Sulfide binding is mediated by zinc ions discovered the crystal structure of a hydrothermal vent tubeworm hemoglobin. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 102(8):2713-2718 .
      6. Royer WE, Zhu H. and Gorr, T. Flores JF and Knapp JE. (2005). Minireview: Allosteric hemoglobin assembly: Diversity and similarity. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 280(30):27477-27480.

Press Articles

Professor loses out on family heritage. NinerOnline, UNC Charlotte Student Newspaper, April 17, 2012.http://nineronline.com/2012/professor-loses-out-on-family-heritage/

Biology Curriculum Changes to Promote Success. UNC Charlotte Campus News, October 19, 2011.http://campusnews.uncc.edu/biology-curriculum-changes-promote-student-success

Novel Sulfide Binding Mechanisms Found in Deep-Sea Tubeworms. Science Daily, Feb. 23, 2005. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/02/050223124700.htm

Tubeworms’ Hexagonal Hemoglobin May Serve as Possible Substitute for Oxygen Carriers in Human Blood.RxPG News, Feb. 19, 2005. http://www.rxpgnews.com/hematology/Tubeworms_Hexagonal_Hemoglobin_May_Serve_As_Possib_407_407.shtml