SpelBio News
Student and Alumni Spotlight
Spelman Alumna Dereka Moore Joins the Biology Department as Laboratory Assistant
Dereka Moore is a proud Spelman alumna, and received her Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2010. While at Spelman Dereka was a MARC scholar and a member of Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. She conducted her undergraduate research at Emory University in the Department of Bariatric Surgery and coauthored her first publication entitled “Contribution of adipose tissue to plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations during weight loss following gastric bypass surgery.” Following graduation, she continued her studies at Georgia State University, where she earned her Master of Science in Biology. During her graduate studies she examined the role of antioxidant proteins in neuronal growth and development. Dereka has a true passion for science and teaching, and is very excited to return home and share that passion with her Spelman sisters.
Dereka and her husband Chieoke Moore (Morehouse Class ’10) live in Atlanta with their two little girls Zayani and Zara.
Sky Myers, Junior Biology Major, Receives Award
at 2015 SACNAS National Conference
Ms. Sky Myers recently presented her reserach, "Heat Treatments of Anisakis Simplex Infecting European Hake (Merluccius merluccius L.) Fillets," at the 2015 SACNAS National Conference in Washington, DC. Her exemplary communication skills and command of the research topic earned her one of the 2015 Student Presentation Awards.
SACNAS is a society of scientists dedicated to fostering the success of Chicano/Hispanic and Native American scientists—from college students to professionals—to attain advanced degrees, careers, and positions of leadership in science. This year, the National Conference gathered over 3600 students and professionals. Taking place over three days, the conference showcased both undergraduate and graduate student presentations, offered scientific symposia, keynote addresses, professional development sessions, and a grand exhibit hall in which students interacted with over 300 exhibitors representing colleges and universities across the nation.
Janina M. Jeff, PhD, MS, is a human genetics educator, and minority science technology engineering math (STEM) activist. She received her PhD in Human Genetics and her Masters in Applied Statistics at Vanderbilt University, and her BS in Biology from Spelman College. Dr. Jeff recently finished her postdoctoral training with Drs. Eimear Kenny and Erwin Bottinger at Mount Sinai Hospital in Population Genetics and Pharmacogenetics.
Throughout her training as a human geneticist, Dr. Jeff has gained expertise in the statistical design and interpretation of large-scale genomic data. Her research career has been largely focused on the discovery of genetic loci that impact minority populations, Hispanics and African Americans, for complex common diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. She is known for her expertise in population genomics, specifically in developing and implementing pipelines to handle complex genetic ancestry for genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Dr. Jeff recently accepted a position as the Global Bioinformatics Specialist for Illumina that specializes in genotyping and sequencing technologies.
January 2016 Spotlight: Janina Jeff
Amani Lee Takes Her Love for Veterinary Science to a New Level
Amani R. Lee, C'2018, is a junior biology major at Spelman who is striving for success in every area of her life. Lee aspires to become a veterinarian who specializes in cardiovascular surgery of large mammals. She intends to work with exotic animals at a zoo as well as in a lab where she will help create cures/vaccines for animal-related diseases.
A Deep and Consistent Love for Animals
A volunteer in many animal clinics and shelters, such as the Solano Animal Shelter and the Fulton County Animal Shelter, demonstrates Lee's passion for animals. Last summer, she traveled to Barbados with Kai McCormick, Ph.D., vice chair of psychology, G-STEM director and associate professor, to conduct psychological research on primates...........