EDUCATION

May 2002 – May 2008               PhD in Bioengineering

                                                Clemson University Department of Bioengineering

                                                Advisor:  Dr. Ted A. Bateman

Dissertation:  “Radiation-induced osteoporosis: Bone quantity, architecture, and increased resorption following exposure to ionizing radiation.”

September 1999- July 2001        MS in Biological Sciences

                                                Ohio University Department of Biological Sciences

                                                Advisor:  Dr. Audrone Biknevicius, OU-COM

September 1995- June 1999       BS in Biological Sciences Pre-Physical Therapy

Ohio University Department of Biological Sciences        

RESEARCH INTERESTS

My research investigates radiation-induced osteoporosis. Specifically, how ionizing irradiation that models cancer therapy and spaceflight cause bone loss, with the goal of preventing fractures after irradiation. Research involves: ·         Quantifying cortical and trabecular bone after irradiation with microcomputed tomography and histology ·         Examining mechanical properties (i.e. strength, toughness) within rat bone after irradiation using an Instron ·         Culturing marrow from irradiated femora to assess impacts on osteoclastogenesis and in vitro resorption ·         Model doses of proton radiation astronauts may receive during missions to the moon or Mars in combination with modeled microgravity to asses response in rodent bone (at Kennedy Space Center and Loma Linda Univ.) ·         Test treatments (i.e. bisphosphonates) after modeled cancer radiotherapy to prevent bone loss and fracture

WORK EXPERIENCE

2008-Present      National Space Biomedical Research Institute Postdoctoral Fellow, Clemson, SC.

2002-2008          Teaching / Research Assistant, Bioengineering and Biological Sciences Departments:  Clemson University, Clemson, SC.

2004-2005          Instructor of Biology: Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC), Jamestown, NC.

2001-2002          Visiting Instructor of Biology and Director of the Bioscience Laboratory: Ohio Northern University, Ada, OH.  

2000-2001                     Research Assistant, Biological Sciences Department: Ohio University, Athens, OH

·Investigated how limb posture influences gait mechanics by examining ground reaction forces, whole body kinetics, and limb kinematics in varied animals (i.e., alligators, chickens, dogs)

1999-2001          Teaching Assistant, Biological Sciences Department: Ohio University, Athens, OH.

1997-1998          Undergrad Laboratory Assistant, Biological Sciences Department: Ohio University, Athens, OH. 

PUBLICATIONS

Willey, J.S.,  L.G. Grilly, S.H. Howard, M.J. Pecaut, A. Obenaus, D.S. Gridley, G.A. Nelson, and TA Bateman. The Effects of iron radiation on the architecture and structural properties of trabecular and cortical bone.  In Press For: Radiat. Res.

Willey J.S., S.A.J. Lloyd, M.E. Robbins, J.D. Bourland, H. Smith-Sielicki, L.C. Bowman, R.W. Norrdin, T.A. Bateman. Early increase in osteoclast number in mice following whole body irradiation with 2 Gy X-rays. In Press For:  Radiat. Res.

Bandstra, E.,  M.J. Pecaut, E.R. Anderson, J.S. Willey, F. DeCarlo, S.Stock, D.S. Gridley, G.A Nelson, H.Levine, and T.A. Bateman. Dose threshold for long-term trabecular bone loss from proton radiation in mice.  2008. Radiat. Res. 169(6): 607-14.

Hamilton, S.A., M.J. Pecaut, D.S. Gridley, N.D. Travis, E.R. Bandstra, J.S. Willey , and T.A. Bateman.  A murine model for bone loss from therapeutic and space-relevant sources of radiation.  2006. J Appl Physiol.  101:  789-793. 

Reilly, S. M., J S. Willey, A.R. Biknevicius, and R. Blob. 2005. Hindlimb function in the alligator: integrating movements, motor patterns, ground reaction forces and bone strain of terrestrial locomotion. J Exp Biol. 208: 993-1009.

Willey, J.S, and R.W. Blob.  2004.  Tail kinematics of snapping turtles during aquatic walking.  J. Herpetology. 38(3):  360-369

Willey, J.S., A.R. Biknevicius, S.M. Reilly, and K.D. Earls.  2004. The tale of the tail: limb function and locomotor mechanics in Alligator Mississippiensis.  J Exp Biol. 207:553-563

Miesse A.M., J.S. Willey, and T.A. Bateman.  2004.  Potential role of proinflammatory cytokines in nerve damage related bone loss. Biomed Sci Instrum. 40:266-71.

Travis N.D., S.A.J. Lloyd, M.J. Pecaut, D.S. Gridley, J.S. Willey, E.R. Bandstra, G.A. Nelson, and T.A. Bateman. Effects of Spaceflight-Relevant Types and Doses of Ionizing Radiation on Cortical Bone: Potential LET Effect. Submitted to: Advances in Space Research.

BOOK CHAPTER

Bateman, TA, Bandstra, ER, Willey, JS, Yuan, YY, Lloyd, SAJ, Bourne, J.  How do animal models inform the debate. Cavanaugh, PR (ed.). Bone Loss During Spaceflight, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 2007.

ORAL PRENSENTATIONS AND SEMINARS

2006     Willey, J.S.  Acute Quantitative and Qualitative Changes in Tibial Microarchitecture Following High-Dose Irradiation.  Clemson University Department of Bioengineering Fall Seminar Series.  September 25.

2006     Willey, J.S., E.R. Bandstra, and T.A. Bateman.  Minimum, Efficacious Antiresorptive Dosing and Space Radiation-Induced Bone Loss.   Report to the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) Bone Loss Team; American Society of Bone and Mineral Research Conference (Phildelphia, PA. September 17).

2006     Lu, T., J.S. Willey, and T.A. Bateman.  7 Gy gamma irradiation-induced changes in mice tibial histology. 4^th Annual NIH-NSF BBSI Symposium on Innovative Biomaterials.  Charleston, SC.    

2005     Willey, J.S.  Radiation and bone loss: establishing a hypothesis for the molecular and cellular mechanisms.  Clemson University Department of Bioengineering Fall Seminar Series.  November 14.

2004     Blob, R.W., Willey, J.S., and Wyneken, J.  Limb muscle activation patterns during locomotion in loggerhead sea turtles. Seventh Annual International Congress of Vertebrate  Morphologists (Boca Raton, Florida). Journal-of-Morphology.; 260(3): 279

2004    Blob, R.W.; Willey, J.S.; Lauder, G.V.; Clemson Univ.; Harvard Univ.: Swimming in painted turtles: particle image velocimetry reveals different propulsive roles for the forelimb and hindlimb.  Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting (New Orleans, Louisiana). Integrative-and-Comparative-Biology.; 43(6): 985.

2003     Willey, J.S.  Limb function and locomotor mechanics in the American Alligator, Alligator mississippiensis.  Clemson University Department of Biological Sciences Seminar Series. Feb 28. 

2002     Reilly S.M., A.R. Biknevicius, and J.S. Willey.   Locomotory dynamics of a semi-erect posture: correlating kinematics and kinetics in walking alligators.  Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting (Anaheim, California). American-Zoologist.; 41(6): 1565.

2001          Willey J.S., S.M. Reilly, and A.R. Biknevicius.  Whole body mechanics and the semi-erect posture: an inverted pendulum walk in alligators?  Sixth Annual International Congress of Vertebrate Morpholgists (Jena, Germany). Journal-of-Morphology.; 248(3): 301.

2001     Reilly S.M., A.R. Biknevicius, and J.S. Willey.   Locomotory dynamics of a semi-erect posture: correlates of kinematics and kinetics in walking alligators.  Sixth Annual International Congress of Vertebrate Morpholgists (Jena, Germany). Journal-of-Morphology.; 248(3): 275.

2001     Willey J.S., S.M. Reilly, and A.R. Biknevicius. The mechanics of the semi-erect posture: Locomotor force studies in Alligator.”  Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting (Chicago, Illinois). American-Zoologist. 2000; 40(6): 1260.

POSTER PRESENTATIONS

2007     Willey, J.S., Gridley, D.S., Pecaut, M.J., Bateman, T.A.  An acute 7 gray dose of gamma-radiation induces a profound and rapid loss of trabecular bone in mice.  American Society for Bone and Mineral Research Annual Meeting (Honolulu, HA) Sept 16-19, 2007.

2007     Tirado, L. Willey, J.S. Bourland, J.D. Robbins, M.E.C., Bateman, T.A. Effects of low dose ionizing radiation on bone metabolism in rats.  South Carolina Life - Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Colloquium. Benedict College, Columbia, SC. April 21.

2006     Willey, J.S., L.G. Grilly, S.H. Howard, M.J. Pecaut, A. Obenaus, D.S. Gridley, G.A. Nelson, and T.A. Bateman.  The effects of 56Fe radiation on structural and microarchitecture in trabecular and cortical bone.  Radiation Research Annual Meeting, (Philadelphia, PA) Nov 5-9.

2006     Tirado, L., S.A.J. Lloyd, J.S. Willey, and T.A. Bateman. Effect of OPG and Zoledronate (ZOL) treatments on bone formation and resorption marker levels in blood serum of mice.  4^th Annual NIH-NSF BBSI Symposium on Innovative Biomaterials. Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC. 

2006     Willey, J.S., M.J. Pecaut, D.S Gridley, and T.A. Bateman.  Gamma irradiation induces large deficits in trabecular bone microarchitecture within mice tibia.  2^nd South Carolina Symposium on Bioengineering:  Redefining Regenerative Medicine, Clemson, SC.   

2003     Willey, J.S., and R.W. Blob.  Tail function during aquatic walking in snapping turtles.  Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting (Toronto, Canada) SICB-Annual-Meeting-and-Exhibition-Final-Program-and-Abstracts.2003: 343.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

·      Co-Instructor (with Dr. Ted Bateman), Biomaterials Implantology (BioE 882), Clemson Univ, Spring 2002-2008 ·      Guest Lecturer, Orthopedic Engineering and Pathology (BioE 812), Clemson Univ, Spring 2008 ·      Guest Lecturer / Teaching Assistant, Human Anatomy and Physiology I (Biosc 222), Clemson Univ, 2002-2006 ·      Guest Lecturer / Teaching Assistant, Human Anatomy and Physiology II (Biosc 223), Clemson Univ, 2002-2006 ·      Guest Lecturer, Bone Biomechanics (BioE 850), Clemson Univ, Spring 2006 ·      Instructor of Record, Anatomy and Physiology I (Bio 165), GTCC, Winter 2005 ·      Instructor of Record, Anatomy and Physiology II (Bio 166), GTCC, Fall 2004 ·      Instructor of Record, General Biology (Bio 111), GTCC, Fall 2004 and Winter 2005 ·      Teaching Assistant, Comparative Vertebrate Morphology (Biosc 408), Clemson Univ, Spring 2003 ·      Instructor of Record, General Biology (Biol 121), Ohio Northern University, Fall 2001 ·      Instructor of Record, Introduction to Zoology (Biol 122), Ohio Northern University, Winter 2002 ·      Instructor of Record, Bioscience Lab II (Biol 323), Ohio Northern University, Spring 2002 ·      Teaching Assistant, Human Anatomy (Bios 301), Ohio University, 1997-2001 ·      Teaching Assistant, Intro to Zoology (Bios 171), Ohio University, 1999-2000 ·      Teaching Assistant, Intro to Zoology (Bios 173), Ohio University, 1997-2000

SUPERVISOR FOR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

2006-2008      Leidamarie Tirado, South Carolina Alliance for Minority Participation (SCAMP) and SC Life (Howard Hughes Medical Institute) Mentee.  Project title: Effect of OPG and Zoledronate (ZOL) treatments on bone formation and resorption marker levels in blood serum of mice. Awarded $500 academic scholarship

2007-2008      Stephanie Riffle, Clemson University Biological Sciences Department, Biosc 491 2007-2008 Senior Research Project.  Project Title:  Mitigating effects of osteoporosis therapies (bisphosphonates) on radiation-induced reduction in bone strength.

2007-2008      Erica Anderson, 2007-2008 Senior Research Project at Clemson University AND NIH-NSF Intern for the Bioengineering & Bioinformatics Summer Institute.  Project title:  In vitro bone resorption from irradiated marrow.

2006-2007      Teng Lu, NIH-NSF Intern for the Bioengineering & Bioinformatics Summer Institute at Clemson University.  Project title: 7 Gy gamma irradiation-induced changes in mice tibial histology. Winner: Best Intern Project

2000-2001      Erin Clifford, Ohio University Departmental Honors Student.  Thesis title “The kinetics of locomotion in the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus)”

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES

2007-Present     American Society for Bone and Mineral Research

2005-Present   Radiation Research Society (Scholar-In-Training Member)

AWARDS AND GRANTS

·“Radiation effects on bone tissue and cells in reduced gravity”. Fellowship awarded to JS Willey.  National Space Biomedical Research Institute (PF01403; through NASA NCC 9-58). $102,000

·“High total dose fractionated radiation and bone health:  Quantifying bone loss following therapeutic radiation.”  Grant awarded to TA Bateman and JS Willey. Procter and Gamble Pharmaceuticals.  $50,000

·South Carolina Space Grant Consortium Graduate Student Fellowship, Spring 2007.  $2130

·Page Morton Hunter Bioengineering Graduate Researcher Award 2006.  $500

·Radiation Research Society scholars-in-training travel award 2006.  $500