Ondra Kielbasa, Ph.D.

Education

Courses Taught

Human Anatomy and Physiology Lecture and Laboratory: Two semester course covering all major systems of the human body with an emphasis on relating structure to function.

Principles of Biology I Lecture and Laboratory: First semester of a two semester introductory sequence providing a survey of major biological concepts and principles important to all living organisms. Topics include the chemistry of life, cells, genetics, mechanisms of evolution, and the evolutionary history of biological diversity.

Cell Biology Lecture and Laboratory: One semester lecture course covering major aspects of eukaryotic animal cell biology, with a strong emphasis on experimental techniques used in modern cell and molecular biology research. In the laboratory, students participate in projects that are specifically designed to provide an experiential course-based research experience focused on the study of mammalian cells in culture.

Forensic Biology Lecture and Laboratory: One semester course covering sources and analysis of biological evidence, serology, species identification, identification of biological fluids, blood group typing, DNA extraction, DNA amplification, and electrophoresis.

Research Interests

Pedagogical Interests:

Dr. Kielbasa approaches teaching and learning in the classroom from a data-driven, research-based perspective. She is passionate about improving science education, and believes (like many others!) that student learning in science should occur as much as possible through inquiry and activity-based approaches. In support of this, she utilizes pedagogical methods that are based on best practices and are supported by recent advances in science education literature.
Research Interests

Dr. Kielbasa’s research involves the use of cultured mammalian cells to examine fundamental biological processes such as cell growth and differentiation, with a specific focus on muscle differentiation. Research project areas include examination of the transcriptional regulation using promoter analysis in cultured cells, as well as the characterization of various cell lines in the laboratory. Experiments allow student researchers to gain hands on experience and exposure to several biological techniques, including aseptic culturing of cells and routine maintenance, phase-contrast microscopy, fluorescent microscopy, DNA isolation/analysis, and protein isolation/analysis.

Publications

OM Kielbasa and C Brough*. 2017. "Ethanol-induced inhibition of C2C12 muscle cell differentiation". Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science. 91:11-21

ME Boyle*, C Brough*, and OM Kielbasa. 2017. "Analysis of fusion-related genes in ethanol-treated C2C12 muscle cells. "American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) Annual Conference. Philadelphia, PA. Poster Presentation. Abstrat Citation: ME Boyle*, C. Brough*, and OM Kielbasa. 2017. "Analysis of fusion-related genes in ethanol-treated C2C12 muscle cells." Molecular Biologry of the Cell. 28: 529-530. Abstract #P3554.

OM Kielbasa. 2017. "The Impact of Varying Concentrations of Ethanol on Muscle Cell Fusion and Analysis of Fusion-Related Proteins." Disappearing Boundaries Summer Research Meeting. Albright College. Reading, PA Oral Presentation.

OM Kielbasa. 2017. "Immunofluorescence and fusion index analysis of ethanol-treated C2C12 muscle cells in culture." Pennsylvania Academy of Science Annual Conference. King's College. Wilkes Barre, PA. Oral Presentaiton.

OM KIelbasa and C Brough*. 2016. "Ethanol treatment reduces myoblast fusion in culture." American Society of Cell Biology (ASCB) Annual Conference. San Francisco, CA. Poster Presentation. Abstract Citation: Kielbasa OM and Brough C (2016) Molecular Biology of the Cell.27: 1576. Abstract #P2477

OM Kielbasa. 2016. "Evaluation of pedagogical innovaitons: a survey of educational research literature in cell biology" American Society of Cell Biology (ASCB) Annual Conference. San Francisco, CA. Poster Presentation. Abstract Citation: Kielbasa OM (2016) Molecular Biology of the Cell. 27: 529-530. Abstract #P833.

OM Kielbasa. 2016. "A review of pedagogical advances in cell biology." STEM-UP PA Innovations in Teaching Symposium. Harrisburg, PA. Oral Presentation.

OM Kielbasa. 2015. "Introducing Active Learning into the traditional Lecture Format: A "Clickers" Case Study." STEM-UP PA Innovations in teaching Symposium. Harrisburg, PA. Oral Presentation.

OM Kielbasa. 2014. “Development of a novel, inquiry-based curriculum for the undergraduate cell biology laboratory.” American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) Annual Conference. Philadelphia, PA. Poster Presentation. Abstract Citation: Kielbasa OM (2014) Molecular Biology of the Cell. 25: 629-630. Abstract #P830.

OM Kielbasa. 2014. “Development of a novel, inquiry-based curriculum for the undergraduate cell biology laboratory.” STEM-UP PA Innovations in Teaching Symposium. Harrisburg, PA. Oral Presentation.

OM Kielbasa. 2013. “What are the molecular pathways that govern striated muscle formation and function?” Disappearing Boundaries Summer Research Meeting. Lebanon Valley College. Small Group Oral Presentation.

OM Kielbasa. 2011. “Teaching for Understanding: The Importance of Developing a Conceptual Framework.” Curriculum Fellows Seminar Series on Education. Harvard Medical School. Oral Presentation.

OM Kielbasa, JG Reynolds, H Weiler, C Wu, S Kandarian, and FJ Naya. 2011. Myospryn modulates skeletal muscle regeneration and fiber-type through the calcineurin-NFAT signaling pathway. FASEB Journal. 7: 2276-2286.

SA McCalmon, DM Desjardins, S Ahmad, KS Davidoff, CM Snyder, K Sato, K Ohashi, OM Kielbasa, M Mathew, EP Ewen, K Walsh, H Gavras, FJ Naya. 2010. Modulation of Angiotensin II-mediated cardiac remodeling by the MEF2A Target Gene Xirp2. Circulation Research. 106: 952-960.

OM Kielbasa, JG Reynolds, H Weiler, SC Kandarian, and FJ Naya. 2009. “Myospryn Modulates Skeletal Muscle Regeneration and Fiber-type Transformation through the Calcineurin-NFAT Signaling Pathway.” Joint Meeting of Frontier in Myogenesis and Skeletal Muscle Stem and Satellite Cells. Columbia University, New York, NY. Poster Presentation.

OM Kielbasa, JG Reynolds, and FJ Naya. 2008. “Functional Analysis of the Novel Muscle Specific Scaffolding Protein Myospryn.” National Graduate Student Research Festival. National Institutes of Health. Bethesda, MD. Poster Presentation.

HT Huang, OM Brand, M Mathew, C Ignatiou, EP Ewen, SA McCalmon, and FJ Naya. 2006. Myomaxin is a novel transcriptional target for MEF2A that encodes a Xin related alpha-actinin interacting protein. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 280: 39370-39379.

JT Durham, OM Brand, M Arnold, JG Reynolds, L Muthukumar, H Weiler, JA Richardson, and FJ Naya. 2006. Myospryn is a direct transcriptional target for MEF2A that encodes a striated muscle, alpha-actinin interacting, costamere-localized protein. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 281: 6841-6849.

* Denotes 91�� undergraduate student coauthor.

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