Jeffrey O. French, PhD Office: PO Box 1892, 7801 N. Tigerville Rd., Tigerville, SC 29688 (864) 977-7132, Jeffrey.French@ngu.edu Education Doctor of Philosophy 2008 Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Nonrandom synonymous codon usage in a large database of complete genomes across bacterial taxa (Dr. Austin L. Hughes) Areas of emphasis: molecular genetics, bioinformatics Master of Science 2001 Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Characterization and evolutionary relationships among copies of feather β-keratin genes (Dr. Roger H. Sawyer, Dr. Travis C. Glenn) Areas of emphasis: genetics, ecology Bachelor of Arts 1995 Psychology, Furman University, Greenville, SC Presidential Scholar (full scholarship), summa cum laude, President s Cup (4.0 GPA) Independent research: Mind wandering and aging (Dr. Gilles Einstein) Fauna of the South Carolina sandhills (Dr. William Teska) Diploma 1991 Orangeburg Preparatory School, Orangeburg, SC Valedictorian Academic Employment North Greenville University Tigerville, SC 2007-present Chair, Associate Professor, Biology Assistant Dean of Science and Mathematics 24 credits/year + overload + up to 15 summer Biological Research and Writing (classroom and online) Genetics (+ lab) Ecology (+ lab) Environmental Science (+ lab) Human Biology (+ lab) Integrated Biology (lab only) Invertebrate Biology (+ lab) Natural Resource Management Principles of Biology (lab only) Senior Seminar in Biology Internship in Environmental Science Teaching Ecology for Life Science Teachers (online)
Courses developed: Biological Research and Writing (classroom and online) Natural Resource Management Internship in Environmental Science Professional activities: Institutional effectiveness for all science departments Recruitment activities, You Make a Difference Award (2014) Interim coordinator of computer science and math (2012) Advisor for research, teaching assistants, honors students (Continued on attachment if applicable) Furman University 2010-2011 Greenville, SC Adjunct Instructor, Biology Genetics (+ lab) University of South Carolina 2006-2007 Research Assistant, Biological Sciences University of South Carolina 2000-2005 Instructor/Grants Coordinator, College of Arts and Sciences Courses developed: Scientific and Technological Problems in Business and Industry Business and Legal Issues for Science Managers Internship in Science and Technology Based Business Professional activities: Professional Science Master s program manager Led the new graduate degree program through approval, development, graduation of 17 students, recruitment of 15 students enrolled for 2005. Managed budgets, worked with Director of External Grants to submit proposals for multiple grants, federal and private. Student trip: 12 graduate students, 4-day trip to Buenos Aires 2005 Midlands Technical College 2000-2002 Adjunct Instructor, Science General Anatomy and Physiology (+ lab) Anatomy and Physiology (lab only) University of South Carolina 1998-1999 Teaching Assistant, Biological Sciences 1997-1998 Research Intern, Biological Sciences Labs taught: Histology Biological Principles I
Additional Employment Riverbanks Zoological Park 2006-2007 Mammal Keeper 1996-1998 Bird Keeper Community Service and Professional Organizations See attachment if applicable Rotary International 2000-2004 Rotarian of the Year, Columbia Capital Rotary Club (2004) Sergeant-at-arms, Columbia Capital Rotary Club (2002) Professional Skills Working knowledge of HTML and basic web page design Have developed online resources for clubs, research and biotech labs, science graduate education initiatives, and science courses. Technical experience Current techniques: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and primer optimization; DNA extraction from blood, tissue; handling and culturing bacteria; bacterial cloning of PCR products; agarose gel electrophoresis; phylogenetic analyses; analyses of genetic variation using a range of Macintosh and PC software; gene homology search, sequence alignment, and assembling phylogenetic trees; application of sequence analysis software (MEGA, PAML, CLUSTAL). Past techniques: Restriction fragment analysis; automated DNA sequencing of PCR products and plasmid DNA using an ABI 377XL; preparation of sequencing reactions and data analysis from a LiCor 4000; production and purification of proteins over-expressed in E. coli. Papers and Presentations --- French, JO. 2001. Characterization and evolutionary relationships among copies of feather β- keratin genes. Master s thesis, University of South Carolina. --- French, JO. 2008. Nonrandom synonymous codon usage in a large database of complete genomes across bacterial taxa. Doctoral dissertation, University of South Carolina. --- French, JO, Diebold EN, Long JA, Seibels RE, Sawyer RH, and Glenn TC. 1998. Mitochondrial DNA variations of the Cinereous Vulture, Aegypius monachus. Proc. of 1st annual Conservation Research Consortium, June 1998,, 252-262. --- French JO, Sawyer RH, and Glenn TC. 1999. What makes a bird a bird?: diversity and evolution of feather beta keratin DNA sequences. Evolution '99, June 1999, Madison, WI.
--- Glenn TC, French JO, Heincelman TJ, Jones KL, and Sawyer RH. 2008. Evolutionary relationships among copies of feather beta (β) keratin genes from several avian orders. Integrative and Comparative Biology 48: 463-475. --- Glenn TC, Thompson JE, Ballard BM, Roberson JA, and French JO. 2002. Mitochondrial DNA variation among wintering midcontinent Gulf Coast sandhill cranes. Journal of Wildlife Management 66(2): 339-348. --- Hughes AL, and French JO. 2007. Homologous recombination and the pattern of nucleotide substitution in Ehrlichia ruminantium. Gene 387(1-2): 31-37. --- Hughes AL, Rivailler P, French JO, and Friedman R. 2008. Synonymous and nonsynonymous polymorphism and divergence in bacteria. Molecular Biology and Evolution 25: 2199-2209. --- Sawyer RH, Glenn TC, and French JO. 1999. The keratins of scales and feathers. Annual meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Jan 1999, Denver, CO. --- Sawyer RH, Glenn TC, French JO, and Knapp LW. 2005. Developing antibodies to synthetic peptides based on comparative DNA sequencing of multigene families. Methods in Enzymology 395: 636-652. --- Sawyer RH, Glenn TC, French JO, Mays B, Shames RB, Barnes GL Jr., Rhodes W, and Ishikawa Y. 2000. The expression of β-keratins in the epidermal appendages of reptiles and birds. Integrative and Comparative Biology 40: 530-539. --- Sawyer RH, Salvatore BA, Potylicki TF, French JO, Glenn TC, and Knapp LW. 2003. Origin of feathers: Feather beta (β) keratins are expressed in discrete epidermal cell populations of embryonic scutate scales. Journal of Experimental Zoology 295B: 12-24. Mentored Student Posters 2010. Herpetology on campus, Manuel Izquierdo, NGU College of Science and Math symposium. 2011. Herpetofaunal diversity at North Greenville University, Joshua Murray, NGU College of Science and Math symposium. 2011. Codon usage in bacteria, Melody Talbott and Kristen McCall, NGU College of Science and Math symposium. 2012. Defining atypical codon usage in bacteria, Melody Talbott, NGU College of Science and Math symposium. 2013. Designing a scoring method for nonrandom codon usage in bacteria, Mark Lucas, NGU College of Science and Math symposium. 2013. Surveying the herpetofaunal community in different aquatic habitats on campus, Kendall Haskett and Benjamin Morrison, NGU College of Science and Math symposium.
Community Talks 2006. Careers in zoo keeping, Leaphart Elementary School,. 2012. Environmental science merit badge, Boy Scout Troop 616, Taylors SC.