Education and Professional Experience

• 2007-present, Research Assistant Professor, and Imaging Core Facility Manger, University of Miami Biology Department
• 2002-2007, Research associate, Stony Brook University
• 1998-2002, Postdoctoral fellow with M. Kernan, Stony Brook University,
• 1990-1998, Ph.D.Graduate student with J.W. Truman, University of Washington,
• 1986-1990, University of Iowa, Undergraduate research assistant

Awards

• 1990, Honors in Biology
• 1990, Robbie Prize for Outstanding Graduating Biology Major
• 1989, Sigma Xi research award

Grants

• Carol Baldwin Breast Cancer research grant (co-PI with M. Kernan) 2004-06
• NIH NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship 1999-2001
• NIH NRSA Predoctoral Fellowship (NIH) 1991-94

Areas of Focus

• Cell Biology

Research Interests

I study the mechanisms that regulate and underlie ciliary development in animals (Drosophila in particular).  While cilia are ubiquitous on animal cells and intriguing for their fantastic ultrastructure, they have only recently been recognized as having fundamental roles in development and human disease.  In my lab we seek to understand one of the earliest steps in cilia formation, how the centrioles, a component of the microtubule-nucleating centrosome, are respecified to initiate cilia formation.  Recently I have been pursuing the function of kokopelli, a novel cyclin isolated using a yeast 2-hybrid protein interaction screen for proteins involved in altering centrioles to produce ciliogenic basal bodies.

Teaching Interests

As an educator I strive to tie the subject of any given lecture to points of relevance to the student body, whether these are stories drawn from current events, examples from human disease or trends likely to impact students in the future.  I also use small group interactions to promote discussion and questions even in lecture hall settings.  My role as instructor is to make students active participants in the lecture hall, laboratory and their own education.

Selected Publications

• Baker, J.D. et al, (in prep) Koko promotes mitosis during adult development of the wing.
• Baker, J.D. , Kernan, M. (Submitted, Dev. Biology. 11/2010).  Kokopelli, a novel cyclin required for germ-line  stem cell renewal.
• Baker, J.D., Adhikarakunnathu, S.D., and Kernan, M. (2004).    Mechanosensory-defective, male-sterile unc mutants identify a novel basal  body protein required for ciliogenesis in Drosophila. Development  131:3411-3422.
• Martinez-Campos, M., Basto, R., Baker, J., Kernan, M., Raff, J.W. (2004).  The Drosophila pericentrin-like protein is essential for cilia/flagella  function, but appears to be dispensable for mitosis. J. Cell Biol. 165:67-83.
• Baker, J.D. and Truman, J.W. (2002) Mutations in the Drosophila   glycoprotein hormone receptor, rickets, eliminate neuropeptide-induced  tanning and selectively block a stereotyped behavioral program. J. Exp. Biol.  205: 2555-2565.
• Baker, J.D., McNabb, S.L. and Truman, J.W. (1999) The hormonal coordination of behavior and physiology at adult ecdysis in Drosophila melanogaster. J. Exp. Biol. 202: 3037-3048.