Yainitza Hernandez-Rodriguez's Profile

Hernandez-Rodriguez, Yainitza (Ph.D.)

Assistant Professor

Department of Biological Sciences

239-590-1264

yhernandez@fgcu.edu

ETI 0112H

Genetics, Cell Biology, Fungal Cell Biology, Science Writing

CV/Resume

Dr. Hernandez-Rodriguez is interested in creating positive teaching experiences for student success that incorporates scientific writing. In her classes, she aims to create teaching environments that allow for applying higher-order thinking. Her research interests are related to the effects of essential oils on the pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus and the model system Aspergillus nidulans. She is also interested in continuing her studies on the biology of the septin cytoskeleton in Aspergillus nidulans. Dr. Hernandez-Rodriguez is launching research focused on Aquatic Fungal Diversity & Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs) Incidences in Southwest Florida. In addition, she collaborates with the Whitaker Center for STEM Education at FGCU in the GEMS activities, STEM Institute K-12, has led the Summer Research Opportunity camp (SRO), and is part of the Leadership Board. She is also a member of the Textbook & Academic Authors Association and the Genetics Society of America. In addition, Dr. Hernandez-Rodriguez is part of the Organizing Committee for the International Aspergillus Meetings.

Education
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- Ph.D. in Plant Biology (Fungal Biology), University of Georgia, Athens Georgia
- B.S. in Microbiology, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
Specialties
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Active learning curriculum development that engages with writing and is aimed for student success. Curriculum development that engages with English Language Learners or Emergent Bilinguals. Effects of essential oils in fungal growth. Fungal polar growth and cytoskeleton. Aquatic Fungi. Doctorate and Post doctorate on the septin cytoskeleton in Aspergillus nidulans.
Research and Teaching Interests
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Interested in researching the effects of plant essential oils in the growth, polarity, and cytoskeleton dynamics of the pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus and the model system Aspergillus nidulans. Interested in researching the interaction between the septin cytoskeleton and the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton as well as roles in endocytosis in Aspergillus. Interested in researching aquatic fungal diversity in Southwest Florida and interactions with HABs with the aim of bioremediation.
Courses Offered
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- PCB 3063C – Genetics
- PCB 3023C – Cell Biology
- ISC 3120C – Scientific Process
- BSC 4900 – Independent Research in Biology
- BSC 4910C – Senior Research I: Research
- BSC 4911 – Senior Research II: Presentation
- BSC 4942C – Senior Project Research in Biotechnology
- BSC 4905 – Dir. Ind. Study/Res. Biotech
- BSC 4943 – Senior Project Presentation in Biotechnology
- CHM 4905 – Dir Ind Study/Res in Chemistry
- BSC 6900 – Independent Study Biology
Publications
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Publications in Education
- Buxton, Cory & Allexsaht-Snider, Martha & Hernandez Rodríguez, Yainitza & Aghasaleh, Rouhollah & Cardozo-Gaibisso, Lourdes & Kirmaci, Mehtap. (2017). A Design-Based Model of Teacher Professional Learning in the LISELL-B Project. 10.1007/978-3-319-43516-9_12.
- Allexsaht-Snider, M., Buxton, C., Hernandez Rodriguez, Y., Cardozo-Gaibisso, L, Cohen, A. & Lu, Z. (2016). Crosscutting findings and recommendations for research and practice in teaching science with emergent bilingual learners. In C. Buxton & M. Allexsaht-Snider (Eds.), Supporting K-12 English Language Learners in Science: Putting Research into Teaching Practice. New York: Routledge, 209-240.
- Buxton, C., Allexsaht-Snider, M., Hernandez, Y., Aghasaleh, R., Cardozo-Gaibisso, L., & Kirmaci, M. (2016). A design-based model of science teacher professional learning in the LISELL-B project. In A. Oliveira & M. Weinburgh (Eds.). Science Teacher Preparation in Content-Based Second Language Acquisition. New York: Springer, 179-196.
Conference Papers and Presentations
- Hernández Rodríguez, Y., Cardozo Gaibisso, L., Hylton, C.P, Latimer, M., Kirmaci, M., Allexsaht-Snider, M., and Buxton, C. (July 2016). Teacher Professional Learning in the LISELL-B Project: Supporting English Learners in the Goals of NGSS. Paper to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Nonye Alozie’s structured poster session, San Antonio Texas (2017).
- Cardozo Gaibisso, L., Hernández Rodríguez, Y., Allexsaht-Snider, M., Vazquez Dominguez, M. and Buxton, C. (July 2016). Teachers on the side of Unaccompanied Youth: Pedagogical Perspectives from Science Educators. Paper submitted to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), San Antonio Texas (2017).
- Buxton, C., Harper, S., Payne, Y.D., Hernández Rodríguez, Y., and Allexsaht-Snider, M. (July 2016). Using the Material Semiotics of Actor Network Theory to Support Diversity and Equity in NGSS. Paper to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Phil Bell’s structured poster session, San Antonio Texas (2017).
- Hernández Rodríguez, Y., Buxton, C., Allexsaht-Snider, M. (April, 2016). Co-Constructing Design-Based Implementation Research with Science Teachers to Support Emergent Bilingual Students. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Washington, D.C.
- Buxton, C., Allexsaht-Snider, M., Hernández Rodríguez, Y., Cardozo Gaibisso, L., Aghasaleh, R., Kirmaci, M., Vazquez Dominguez, M., Harper, S., & Li, J. (April, 2016). Latino/a students, families, and their teachers reassembling visions of STEM college and career readiness. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Washington, D.C.
- Buxton, C., Allexsaht-Snider, M., Hernández Rodríguez, Y., & Kim, S. (2015). Equity-focused implementation of Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core State Standards: Exploring models of hope and possibility. Invited presentation at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Chicago, IL.
- Kirmaci, M., Allexsaht-Snider, M., & Hernández Rodríguez, Y. (April, 2016). Teachers’ experiences working with families in the family workshops. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Washington, D.C
- Allexsaht-Snider, M., Kirmaci, M., Buxton, C., Aghasaleh, R. & Hernández Rodríguez, Y. (August, 2015). Alternative spaces for science teacher professional learning: Bilingual workshops for immigrant families. Paper presented at the 10th International European Research Network about Parents in Education (ERNAPE) conference in Trømso, Norway.
Other Publications
- Bruns, B., Hernández-Rodríguez, Y., Peterson, C. and Chang, SM. 2009*. “ISCI (PBIO) 2001L Life and Earth Science Laboratory Manuals.” eLC, University of Georgia, Athens. GA *Revised: 2010 and 2011.
Publications in Science
- Khang, C. H., Richardson, E. A., Hernández-Rodríguez, Y., Chen, L. H., Todd, T., & Valent, B. (2013). Trafficking Mechanism of Fungal Effector Proteins Inside Rice Cells. Microscopy and Microanalysis, 19(S2), 210-211.
- Hernández-Rodríguez Y., Masuo S., Johnson D., Orlando R., Smith A., Couto-Rodriguez M., and M. Momany. 2014. Distinct Septin Heteropolymers Co-exist During Multicellular Development in the Filamentous Fungus Aspergillus nidulans. PLoS ONE, 9(3): e92819.
- Hernández-Rodríguez, Y. and Momany, M. “Posttranslational modifications and assembly of septin heteropolymers and higher-order structures”. Current Opinion Microbiology. 2012 Oct 29. pii: S1369-5274(12)00123-3.
- Hernández-Rodríguez, Y., Hastings, S. and Momany, M. 2012.The septin AspB in Aspergillus nidulans forms bars and filaments and plays roles in growth emergence and conidiation. Eukaryotic Cell 11:311-323.
- Deak, E., Nelson, M., Hernández-Rodríguez, Y., Gade, L., Baddley, J.W., Momany, M., Steele, C. and Balajee, S.A. 2010. Aspergillus terreus accessory conidia are multinucleated, hyperpolarizing structures that display differential dectin staining and can induce heightened inflammatory responses in a pulmonary model of aspergillosis. Virulence 2(3):200-7.
- Lindsey, R., S. Cowden, Hernández-Rodríguez, Y. and Momany, M. 2010. Septins AspA and AspC are important for normal development and limit the emergence of new growth foci in the multicellular fungus Aspergillus nidulans. Eukaryotic Cell 9: 155-163.
- Momany, M. and Hernández-Rodríguez, Y. (2008). Growth Polarity. In Ed. J.P. Latgé and W.J. Steinbach (Eds.), Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillosis. Washington, DC: ASM Press, 143-148.
Conference Presentations
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Oral Presentations
- Marine Biology Laboratory, Woods Hall, MA
- 18th Aspergillus International Meeting, Pacific Grove, CA
- 101st AERA Conference, Texas, USA
- 100th AERA Conference, Washington DC, USA
- 27th Fungal Genetics Conference, Pacific Grove, CA
- Fungal Microbiology Session at the 98th ASM Southeastern Branch
- Fungal Group, UGA, Athens, GA
- Eukaryotic Microbes Club, UGA, Athens, GA
- Plant Biology Student Symposium, UGA, Athens, GA
- MARC & SLOAN Meeting, UPR, Mayagüez, PR
- Interdisciplinary Scientific Meeting, UPR, Rio Piedras PR
- SURP Presentation Day, UGA, Athens, GA
Poster Presentations
- FGCU Capstone Research Presentations (every semester). FL
- Gordon Conference: Immunology of Fungal Infections, TX
- 18th Aspergillus International Meeting, CA
- 31st Fungal Genetics Conference, CA
- Florida Branch-American Society for Microbiology (FLASM). FL
- 27th Fungal Genetics Conference, Pacific Grove, CA
- 10th Aspergillus Meeting, Pacific Grove, CA
- 12th Conference on Fungal Genetics and Molecular Biology, Japan.
- Gordon Conference: Cellular & Molecular Fungal Biology, NH
- Plant Biology Student Symposium, UGA, Athens, GA
- Structure and Function of Septins, HHMI Janelia Farm, VA
- ASM General Meeting, Boston, MA
- ASM General Meeting, Ontario, Canada
- 24th Fungal Genetics Conference, Pacific Grove, CA
- 4th Aspergillus Meeting, Pacific Grove, CA
- IX Sigma Xi Student Poster Day, UPR, Mayagüez, PR
- ABRCMS, San Diego, CA
- SURP Presentation Day, UGA, Athens, GA
Grants & Awards
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- Holmes Whitaker Center Grant
- Whitaker Center Mini-Grant Travel (Spring)
- College of Arts and Sciences Travel Support (Spring)
- Whitaker Center Mini-Grant to students in the Lab for Research (Fall)
- FGCU Professional Development Grant (Fall)
- Lucas Center Professional Development Grant (Fall)
- FGCU Professional Development Grant (Spring)
- Lucas Center Professional Development Grant (Spring)
- FGCU Scholarship-Research Venture Fund
- LISELL-B Project Recognition by the President’s White House Initiative as a Bright Spot in Hispanic Education
- Outstanding Teaching Award
- Teaching Portfolio
- Dissertation Completion Award
- Graduate Student Assistantship
- Robert Watkins Fellowship from the American Society of Microbiology
- Graduate Recruitment Opportunities Assistantship
- Minority access to research careers (MARC)

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Hernandez-Rodriguez, Yainitza (Ph.D.)

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