Jeffrey Nicholas Fisk
289-C Perkins Green |Rochester, NY 14623| (575)-644-9356| Email: jnf3769@rit.edu
Education:
Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY June 2016 (expected)
Major(s): BS in Biotechnology and Molecular Bioscience, BS in Bioinformatics, Combined MS
in Bioinformatics| Minor: Spanish | Undergraduate/Graduate GPA: 3.84/4.0 on 4.0 scale
Research:
USC Wrigley Institute NSF Summer REU Fellow (2014): The Identification and
Quantification of deep bacterial and archaeal communities at the San Pedro Ocean
Time-series (SPOT) station using metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses
Performed marine microbiology research under Dr. John Heidelberg and USC Graduate student
Rohan Sachdeva. Identified and quantified bacterial and archaeal communities and their activity
at 885meters below sea level. QIIME, mothur, Geneious, Bio-python, and R programs used.
Cancer Informatics (2014-present): Searching for Oncogene targets for miRNA
therapies
Using TGDB, COSMIC, and miRBase, I have begun computationally looking for potential
targets for synthetic microRNA therapies that present heightened specificity to the oncogenic
form of the proto-oncogene. Note: This project is without mentorship.
Bioinformatics Research (2013-present): A SNP-Dense Exon Approach to Identifying
Paralogs in Humans.
An extension of a unique project from my Bioinformatics course. Using Galaxy,
NCBI, DGD, and USC Genome Browser, I have constructed a protocol for identifying potential
paralogs in humans via gene functionality.
Evolutionary Biology (2012): Geographic Reservoir Prediction and Phylogeny of
Filoviruses
Using NCBI, CodonCodeAligner, and a phylogenetic tree construction software, I reconstructed
the evolutionary history of the filovirus family using bootstrap computational methods. After, I
used the natural history of the virus and phylogenetic trees to make a prediction of the
geographical origin of the common ancestor and a potential animal reservoir.
Education/
Outreach:
Biology Education Research (2012-present): Central Dogma Misconceptions and Their
Origins
Conducted education research aimed at identifying student misconceptions in the Central
Dogma of Molecular Biology, recognizing potential sources thereof, and designing instructional
tools and models for correcting them. DNA→RNA: What Do Students Think the Arrow Means?
Published in CBE—Life Sciences Education Vol. 13, 338–348, Summer 2014
Phylogenetics and Cladistics Education (2013-present): Pokémon Phylogenetics: A
educational exercise in cladistics
Constructed a cladogram of over 300 of the fictional creatures Pokémon using categorical
characters for instructional use. MEGA and Mesquite were used to develop the cladogram.
Subsequently, the results were developed into a hands-on educational activity presented at
ImagineRIT 2014.
ImagineRIT Creativity and Innovation Festival Exhibitor (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015):
2012 How Genetics Works: Preformed a hands-on presentation about genetics and population
genetics to layman community.
2013 CSI Debunked: The Truth about Forensics: Preformed a hands-on forensics presentation,
including a simple HTML game, aimed at debunking common misconceptions about forensics.
Was lead exhibitor and coordinator.
2014 CSI Debunked: The Truth about Fingerprints: Presented a hands-on activity about
forensics, focusing on how fingerprinting and DNA fingerprinting work. Was lead exhibitor and
coordinator.
2014 Pokémon Phylogenetics: Designed and presented a cladistics exercise geared towards
teaching systematics to children. Was lead exhibitor and coordinator
2015 The Science of Superheroes: Designed and presented a series of interactive modules to
engage people in scientific learning, using superheroes as case studies. Stress was put on
communication in the scientific community. Was lead exhibitor and coordinator
Celebrate Science and Mathematics (2014): Rochester Institute of Technology COS
Presented an adapted version of the Pokémon Phylogenetics exhibit described above.
Skills:
Computational: Python, Java, MySQL, Terminal (Bash), R, C
Bioinformatic: Galaxy, UCSC Genome Browser, Chimera, CodonCodeAlginer, NCBI,
MEGA, Mesquite, mothur, QIIME, Bio-Python, Bio-Java, AutoDockVina, Geneious, FastQC,
Tuxedo Package.
Biotechnology: Blotting, Gel-Electrophoresis, Recombinant DNA techniques, Isolation of
Microbes, PCR, RT-PCR, qPCR, Cell culture (CHO, HeLa, ect), hybridization techniques.
Awards:
Dean's List (Fall 2011-Fall 2015); Baldwin Wallace Memorial Scholarship (2013); Nathaniel
Rochester Scholarship (2012, 2013), MG James Ursano Scholarship (2013, 2014), ThanksUSA
Scholar (2014)
Coursework: General Chemistry I-III, Organic Chemistry I-III, Biochemistry I&II, Genetics, Genetic
Engineering, Bioinformatic Analysis of Macromolecules, Bioinformatics, Computer
Science I&II, Molecular Modeling and Proteomics, Evolutionary Biology, Tissue
Culture, Human Genetics, Microbiology, Databases and Data Modeling, Cell Biology,
Molecular Biology, Cancer Biology, Mechanics of Programming (C), Bioinformatics Algorithms
High-throughput Sequence Analysis, Genomics, Scientific Paper Writing, Bioinformatics
Seminar, Bioinformatics Languages, Biological Separations, Genetic Diseases and Disorders,
Concepts of Parallel and Distributed Systems, Statistical Models for Bioinformatics,
Intermediate Spanish I-III, Medical Informatics Seminar, Ethics in Bioinformatics, Discrete
Mathmatics, Physics I&II, Data Analysis
Experience: Graduate Teaching Assistant: College of Science, Rochester Institute of Technology
 Fall 2014: Cell and Molecular Biology for Engineers I: Lab Instructor
o Transformation, PCR, Electrophoresis, and other molecular biology techniques
 Spring 2015: Cell and Molecular Biology for Engineers II: Lab Instructor
o Tissue Culture of Eukaryotic Cells
Bioprep Technician:Bio-preparatory Lab at Rochester Institute of Technology:Fall 2012-present
 Producing and maintaining cell cultures aseptically (HeLa, CHO, ect) for use in course
laboratories and research. Duty includes training successor.
 Preparing media and reagents using sterile technique for laboratory use
 Biological and chemical waste manifestation and disposal
 Interaction and communication with faculty concerning laboratory needs
Publications: DNA→RNA: What Do Students Think the Arrow Means? L.Kate Wright, J. Nick Fisk, Dina
Newman CBE—Life Sciences Education Vol. 13, 338–348, Summer 2014
Posters:
2014 USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies NSF REU Research Symposium:
“The Identification and Quantification of deep bacterial and archaeal communities at
the San Pedro Ocean Time-series (SPOT) station using metagenomic and
metatranscriptomic analyses” Nick Fisk, Rohan Sachdeva, Dr. John Heidelberg
SABER 2014 “Development of a Central Dogma Concept Inventory (CDCI) for Use at
All Levels of Undergraduate Biology” Dina L. Newman, J. Nick Fisk, Christopher Snyder,
L. Kate Wright
PKAL 2014“Development of a Central Dogma Concept Inventory (CDCI) for Use at All
Levels of Undergraduate Biology” Dina L. Newman, J. Nick Fisk, Christopher Snyder, L.
Kate Wright
Professional
Memberships:
International Society for Computational Biology (2014-present)
Systematics Association (2014-present)
Activities:
RIT Men's Division III Wrestling Team: (2011-Present):
 3 Time Academic All-Conference Team
 Volunteer tutor at organized, weekly study sessions.
 Interim Captain
Bioinformatics Journal Club: Public Relations Officer (2013-Present)
Biology Education Research Group (2012-Present): Peer evaluation and Journal Studies
Research Scholars (Biology) at RIT (2013-Present)
Pokémon League at RIT (2014-Present)