Andrea James

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Pittsburgh (2015- 2016)
Area of Study: Ophthalmology

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University Texas at Austin (2012- 2015)
Area of Study: Department of Molecular Biosciences

PhD, Stanford University (2005- 2011)
Area of Study: Molecular and Cellular Physiology

Bachelor of Science, San Francisco State University (2000-2005)
Area of Study: Biology Major with an emphasis in Cell and Molecular Biology, Chemistry and History minor

Associate Professor, University of Northern Colorado
Biological Sciences (2022 – Present)

Guest Lecturer, University of Texas at Austin
Developmental Biology lecture and lab (2013-2015)

Undergraduate and Graduate Research Mentor, University of Texas, at Austin
(2012-2015)

Academic Lecturer, San Francisco State University
Undergraduate and Graduate Developmental Biology, Masters seminar in Stem Cell Biology (2011)

7th and 8th Grade Science Lab Instructor, 49ers Academy in East Palo Alto
(2006-2011)

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, Stanford University
Developmental Biology (2009)

Undergraduate Summer Research Mentor, Stanford Summer Research Program
(2007, 2009)

Program Assistant, Stanford Summer Research Program
(2007, ’09, ’11)

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, Stanford University
Cell Biology (2007, 2008)

Learning Assistance Center, San Francisco State University
(2003-2005)

Teaching Assistant, San Francisco State University
Phlebotomy Training Program (2002-2003)

Building and testing new models of eye morphogenesis

This project is an interdisciplinary, experimental/theoretical/computational study of choroid fissure closure and foveal pit formation in the developing vertebrate eye, encompassing 3 subprojects. Supported by Engstrom and James’ NIH grant that runs from Aug 2024 – July 2027. Roughly a dozen UNC undergrads will be involved over this period.

Comparative Contributions of integrin: Extracellular Matrix Interactions during Hyaloid Development in the Zebrafish Eye

Determine the link between ECM, cytoskeletal, and adhesion forces and differentiation in the zebrafish eye

Exploring alternative conceptions of introductory chemistry and biology terminology in a Cell Biology course

Rac is required for the formation and function of “reaching cells” in the zebrafish eye

Areas of Interest

The goal of my research is to determine how cell adhesion components contribute to choroid fissure closure (CFC-closure of the ventral eye), and, more specifically, how the adhesion proteins/complexes mediate intracellular signaling and subsequent regulation of cytoskeletal stability required for proper closure. Zebrafish offer a powerful model system through which the molecular and cellular underpinnings of CFC can be elucidated due to the diverse array of imaging, genetic and molecular tools available in the system. My previous research establishes a system through which discrete events during eye development can be dissected at the cellular and molecular level. My future research builds upon these studies, and focuses on dissecting the molecular underpinnings of tissue fusion in the choroid fissure.

• *James, A., *Lee, C., Williams, A., Angileri, K., Lathrop, K., and J. Gross. The Hyaloid Vasculature Facilitates Basement Membrane Breakdown during Choroid Fissure Closure in the Zebrafish Eye. Manuscript in review at Developmental Biology * Co-First Authors
• Hartsock, A., Lee, C., Arnold, V., and J. Gross. Hyaloid vasculature formation in zebrafish does not require the lens for recruitment of vascular precursor cells Developmental Biology, 394 (2), 327-39, 2014
• *Hayes, J., *Hartsock, A., Clark, B., Napier, H., Link, B. and J. Gross. Integrin-alpha5/ Fibronectin and Focal adhesion Kinase are required for lens fiber morphogenesis in Zebrafish. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 23(24)4725-38, 2012 * Co-First Authors
• Hartsock, A., and W. James Nelson. Competitive Regulation of E-cadherin Degradation by p120-Catenin Binding and Hakai-Mediated Ubiquitination. PLoS ONE. 7(5) e37476, 2012
• Hartsock, A., and W. James Nelson. Adherens and Tight Junctions: Structure, function, and connections to the actin cytoskeleton. BBA Biomembranes, 2008 Mar;1778 (3): 660-9.