Jessica Wittenstein

Graduate Assistant - Tesfaye lab Biomedical Sciences

About Jessica

Jessica Wittenstein received her undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland in 2022 where she majored in Animal Science and Conservation Biology. Her indepent study thesis investigated the application of reintroduction techniques to large primates. In the summer of 2023 Jessica received her biomedical sciences graduate degree from Colorado State University where she specializes in assisted reproductive technologies. During this time she worked as a graduate research assistant in Dr. Thomas Hansen’s Mechanisms of Maternal Recognition of Pregnancy laboratory studying the effects of interferon-tau in ovine recognition of pregnancy. Currently, Jessica is a PhD student in Dr. Dawit Tesfaye’s lab is studying the modulation of embryonic oxidative stress response during the preimplantation period. This project aims to investigate the activation of NRF2-signaling during the bovine preimplantation through the genetic suppression of KEAP1(NRF2 inhibitor) or the use of pharmacological NRF2 activator, quercetin. These strategies are expected to enhance embryo survival and viability under oxidative stress by mitigating the impacts of oxidative stress on methylation patterns and gene expression in early embryos.

Education

Undergraduate, University of Maryland, 2022Graduate, Colorado State University , 2023