Dr. Jennifer O’Connor specializes in examining the emergence of infectious disease through viruses. This includes virus replication, the functions of viral proteins, why and how viruses emerge, and discovering and characterizing new viruses. Dr. O’Connor’s recent research with students employed molecular biology to study the emergence of viral diseases and identify undiscovered viruses among amphibian and bee populations.
Degrees
- Ph.D. University of Tennessee, 1997
- B.A. Miami University, 1991
Honors & Awards
- American Society for Microbiology Scholar-in-Residence
Publications & Presentations
- Kosta Popovic, Eric Reyes, Jen O’Connor, Kay C Dee, & Ella L. Ingram. (2021). Creating Adaptable Courses: A Course Design Approach that Accommodates Flexible Delivery in Resilient Pedagogy: Practical Teaching Strategies to Overcome Distance, Disruption, and Distraction Empower Teaching Open Access Book Series.
- O’Connor, J.B. and J.P. Coppinger. (2018). Cloning and expressing the cat insulin gene in an introductory biology course. Tested Studies for Laboratory Teaching: Proceedings of the 40th Workshop/Conference of the Association for Biology Laboratory Education. June 19-22, 2018, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. (Publication to be printed by June, 2019).
- O’Connor, J.B. (2016). Weekly reflective writing regarding an in-course research project led to more understanding of the process of science and the development of skills and attributes of a scientist. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education 17: 99.
- O’Connor, J.B. (2015). The examination of a metacognition exercise to facilitate intellectual development. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education 16: 72-73.
- O’Connor, J.B. (2011). Examination of the progress towards cognitive development in engineering and science students enrolled in Biology courses. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education 12:107.
- Krisenko, Mariya and Jennifer O’Connor. (2009). Investigation into the viruses present in wild amphibians. Indiana Branch of the American Society for Microbiology (IBASM) Newsletter 12(1): 12-15.
- O’Connor, Jennifer. (2008). Intellectual development and critical thinking skills in Biomedical Engineering and Applied Biology students. Proceedings of the 2008 ASEE Indiana-Illinois Section Conference.
- O'Connor, Jennifer Black and David A. Brian. (2000). Downstream ribosomal entry for translation of coronavirus TGEV gene 3b. Virology 269: 172-182. 9.O'Connor, Jennifer Black and David A. Brian. (1999). The major product of porcine transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus gene 3b is an integral membrane glycoprotein of 31 kDa. Virology 256: 152-161.
Research Interests
- Biology Education
- Virus characterization
- Antibiotic resistance
- Microbiomes in diverse environments
- Cancer inhibitors
Teaching Interests
- General Biology
- Microbiology
- Infection and Immunity
- Virology
- Cancer Biology