Education
Ph.D., Physiology, University of Minnesota, Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, 2024
Thesis: “Unraveling Metabolic Health and Diabetes: Insights into Placental Origin of Health & Nutrient Sensor
Advisor: Emilyn Alejandro, PhD
BS, Biochemistry & Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, 2016
Awards/Presentations
- Dr. Marvin and Hadassah Bacaner Research Award for Creative Research, 2024
- Beatrice Z. Milne and Theodore Brandenburg Award for Exceptional Thesis Research, 2024
- ASBMB 2024 Graduate Student Researcher Award, 2024
- Best Oral Presentation Award, 14th Midwest Islet Club (MIC) Meeting, 2022
- Veneziale-Steer Award in Cellular Growth Regulation Research, 2022
- Steer Family Award in Diabetes Research, 2021
- Lifson/Johnson Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2021
- Allan Hemingway Scholarship for Excellence in Academic Performance, 2020
Fellowships
- NIH (NIDDK) NRSA Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual Fellowship (F31); 3yr (2022-24)
- Frieda M. Kunze Endowed Fellowship (Declined in favor of NIH F31), 2022-23
Publications
- Jo S, Esch N, Nguyen A, Wong A, Mohan R, Kim C, Blandino-Rosano M, Bernal-Mizrachi E, Alejandro EU. (2024). O-GlcNAcylation Modulates mTORC1 and Autophagy in β-Cells, Driving Diabetes Progression. Journal of Clinical Investigation Insight. In Print.
- Morgan E, Chung G, Jo S, Clifton B, Wernimont S, Alejandro EU. (2024). Gene and protein expression of placental nutrient-stress sensor proteins in fetal growth restriction. Stresses. In Print.
- Jo S, Alejandro EU. (2023). RISING STARS: Mechanistic insights into maternal-fetal cross talk and islet beta-cell development. Journal of Endocrinology. PMID: 37855321.
- Beetch M, Akhaphong B, Wong A, Clifton B, Jo S, Mohan R, Abrahante JE, Alejandro EU. (2023). Impact of placental mTOR deficiency on peripheral insulin signaling in adult mice offspring. Journal of Molecular Endocrinology. PMID: 37855320
- Flanary SM, Jo S, Ravichandran R, Alejandro EU, Barocas VH. (2023). A computational bridge between traction force microscopy and tissue contraction. Journal of Applied Physics. PMID: 37593660.
- Jo S*, Beetch M*, Gustafson E, Wong A, Oribamise E, Chung G, Vadrevu S, Satin LS, Bernal-Mizrachi E, Alejandro EU. (2023). Sex differences in pancreatic beta cell physiology and glucose homeostasis in C57BL/6J mice. Journal of the Endocrine Society. PMID: 37873500. *Co-First Authors
- Nashif S, Mahr R, Jena S, Jo S, Nelson A, Sadowski D, Crawford P, Puchalska P, Alejandro EU, Gearhart M, Wernimont S. (2023). Metformin impairs trophoblast metabolism and differentiation in a dose-dependent manner. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. PMID: 37250894.
- Jo S*, Pritchard S*, Wong A, Avula N, Essawy A, Hanover J, Alejandro EU. (2022). Pancreatic Beta-Cell Hyper-O-GlcNAcylation Leads to Impaired Glucose Homeostasis in vivo. Frontiers in Endocrinoogy. PMID: 36387851. *Co-First Authors
- Chung G, Mohan R, Beetch M, Jo S, Alejandro EU. (2022). Placental Insulin Receptor Transiently Regulates Glucose Homeostasis in the Adult Mouse Offspring of Multiparous Dams. Biomedicines. PMID: 35327377.
- Moore M, Avula N, Wong A, Beetch M, Jo S, Alejandro EU. (2022). Reduction in O-GlcNAcylation Mitigates the Severity of Inflammatory Response in Cerulein-Induced Acute Pancreatitis in a Mouse Model. Biology. PMID: 35336721.
- Akhaphong B, Gregg B, Kumusoglu D, Jo S, Singer K, Scheys J, DelProposto J, Lumeng C, Bernal-Mizrachi E, Alejandro EU. (2022). Maternal high-fat diet during pre-conception and gestation predisposes adult female offspring to metabolic dysfunction in mice. Frontiers in Endocrinology. PMID: 35111136.
- Jo S, Alejandro EU. (2022). Imeglimin to the Rescue: Enhanced CHOP/GADD34/eIF2α axis promotes β-cells survival. Diabetes. PMID: 35196391.
- Jo S*, Mohan R*, Chung E, Oribamise E, Lockridge AD, Abrahante JE, Ruan HB, Yang X, Alejandro EU. (2021). Pancreatic β-cell O-GlcNAc Transferase Over-expression Increases Susceptibility to Metabolic Stressors in Female Mice. Cells. PMID: 34685781. *Equal Contribution
- Mohan R, Jo S, Lockridge AD, Ferrington D, Murray K, Eschenlauer A, Bernal-Mizrachi E, Fujitani Y, Alejandro EU. (2021). OGT regulates mitochondrial biogenesis and function via diabetes susceptibility gene Pdx1. Diabetes. PMID: 34462257.
- Moore M, Avula N, Jo S, Beetch M, Alejandro EU. (2021). Disruption of O-linked N-Acetylglucosamine Signaling in Placenta Induces Insulin Sensitivity in Female Offspring. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. PMID: 34203166.
- Jo S, Lockridge AD, Mohan R, Esch N, Schlichting R, Panigrahy N, Essawy A, Gustafson E, Alejandro EU. (2021). Translational factor eIF4G1 regulates glucose homeostasis through pancreatic beta-cell function. Diabetes. PMID: 33109604.
- Akhaphong B, Baumann D, Beetch M, Lockridge AD, Jo S, Wong A, Zemanovic T, Mohan R, Fondevilla DL, Sia M, Pineda-Cortel MR, Alejandro EU. (2021). Placental nutrient-sensing via mTOR-Complex1 regulates fetal programming of obesity and insulin resistance in mice. Journal of Clinical Investigation Insight. PMID: 34032632.
- Essawy A, Jo S, Beetch M, Lockridge A, Gustafson E, Alejandro EU. (2021). O-linked N-Acetylglucosamine Transferase (OGT) regulates pancreatic α-cell function in mice. Journal of Biological Chemistry. PMID: 33460647.
- Esch N, Jo S, Moore M, Alejandro EU. (2020). Nutrient Sensors mTOR and OGT: Orchestrators of Organelle Homeostasis in Pancreatic β-cells. Journal of Diabetes Research. PMID: 33457426.
- Alejandro EU, Jo S, Akhaphong, B, Llacer P, Gianchandani M, Gregg B, Parlee S, MacDougald O, Bernal-Mizrachi E. (2020). Maternal low-protein diet on the last week of pregnancy contributes to insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction in the mouse offspring. American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology. PMID: 32877242.