Jessica Jacob, PhD

Jessica Jacob, PhD

Assistant Professor of Biology, Hawaiʻi Pacific University

Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Medical Sciences
University of Florida (2019)

Master of Science Degree in Marine Science
Hawai’i Pacific University (2012)

Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology, Hawaiʻi Pacific University – College of Natural and Computational Science

August 2023 – July 2024

Lecturer of Biology, Hawaiʻi Pacific University – College of Natural and Computational Science

August 2021 – July 2023

Postdoctoral Scholar, Oregon State University – Hatfield Marine Science Center

March 2020 – February 2021

Graduate Assistant, University of Florida – College of Veterinary Medicine

August 2015 – December 2019

NIST Lab Technician, Hawaiʻi Pacific University – College of Natural and Computational Science

January 2013 – July 2015

Adjunct Faculty, Hawaiʻi Pacific University – College of Natural and Computational Science

August 2012 – May 2015

Laboratory Assistant, Hawaiʻi Pacific University – College of Natural and Computational Science

August 2010 – May 2011

Student Stranding Team Assistant, Hawaiʻi Pacific University – College of Natural and Computational Science

September 2008 – May 2009

Hawaiʻi Pacific University
Charitable Grant Research Funding from John DeBeer – Private Donation Funding for Tuna Identification Project (August 2025)

IDeA Networks of Biomedical Excellence (INBRE) Seed Funding – Sub-award from University of Hawaiʻi, National Institutes of Health Grant (May 2025 – April 2026)

IDeA Networks of Biomedical Excellence (INBRE) Seed Funding – Sub-award from University of Hawaiʻi, National Institutes of Health Grant (May 2024 – April 2025)

IDeA Networks of Biomedical Excellence Student Research Experience (INBRE SRE) – Sub-awards from University of Hawaiʻi, National Institutes
of Health Grant (June 2022 – Present)

Hawaiʻi Pacific University Undergraduate Infrastructure Student Research Center (HUI SRC) – Sub-awards from Hawaiʻi Pacific University, National Institute of Health, and National Institute of General Medical Sciences Grant (May 2022 – May 2024)

College of Natural and Computational Sciences Scholarly Endeavors Program – Award from Hawaiʻi Pacific University Intramural Funds (January 2022-September 2022)

University of Florida
College of Veterinary Medicine, Aquatic Animal Health Marine Mammal Research (February 2024 – June 2024)

College of Veterinary Medicine, Large Animal Clinical Sciences Department (July 2023 – December 2024)

Graduate School Alumni Fellowship (August 2015 – August 2019)

Graduate Student Council Travel Grant (May 2016, May 2017, Dec. 2018, Nov. 2019)

College of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Graduate Student Association Travel Grant (May 2016, May 2017, October 2017, December 2018, November 2019)

• Trained for biological sample collection and handling by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
  • Marine Mammal Tissue Sample Processing and Handling
  • Avian Egg Processing and Handling
  • Marine Turtle Tissue, Blood, and Egg Sample Processing
  • Crustose Coralline Algae Sample Processing
• Proficient in the following lab skills
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
    • Reverse Transcription PCR
    • Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (RACE) PCR
    • Real Time PCR (QPCR)
  • Gel Electrophoresis
  • RNA and DNA Extractions
  • cDNA Formation
  • Preparing DNA Samples for Sequencing Reactions
  • Next Generation Sequencing – Illumina MiSeq
  • Standard Microbial Techniques
    • Cloning DNA using E. coli, Salmonella sp., Brucella sp. and Vibrio sp. bacteria
      • Restriction Digestion, Ligation, Transformation
    • Bacterial plating and growth techniques
  • Western Blotting
  • Vaccine Development
    • Antigen Discovery
    • Live Attenuated Vaccine Construction
• -Animal Experiments
  • Mice
    • Infectious Disease Progression
    • Vaccine testing
  • Oysters
    • Depuration of bacteria
  • Manatee and Sea Turtle
    • Health Assessment
    • Blood Collection
    • Vital Signs Monitoring
    • Biological Sample Specimen Collection
• Computer Analysis
  • Dorsal fin photo identification and cataloging
  • Bioinformatics
    • De Novo Genome Assembly
    • Genome Annotation
    • Genetic Sequence Alignments
    • Microbial Identification and Discovery
    • Basic Local Alignment Search Tool
    • Primer Design
  • GIS software including ArcView 9.2 with ArcMap, ArcCatalog, ArcToolbox, and ArcExplorer

Marine Mammal Virology, Guest Lecture University of Florida Marine Mammal Biology Course

June 30, 2025

Can Whales Get STDs?, Guest Lecture Hawaiʻi Pacific University Marine Science Seminar Series

November 26, 2024

Recombinant DNA Technology, Plant Biotechnology, and Genomics Guest Lecture, Hawaiʻi Pacific University Plant Biology Course

October 15, 2024

Can Whales Get STDs?, Guest Lecture Hawaiʻi Pacific University Research on Tap Seminar Series

September 24, 2024

A Day in the Life of a Marine Mammal Biologist, Guest Lecture Branson School District, Colorado, Middle and High School Students

March 7, 2024

Marine Mammal Viral Diseases, Guest Lecture Hawaiʻi Pacific University Oceanographic Field Techniques Course

November 9, 2023

Marine Mammal Virology, Guest Lecture University of Florida Marine Mammal Biology Course

March 3, 2022

Phylogenomic Characterization of Emerging Marine Mammal Viruses, Guest Speaker Hawaiʻi Pacific University MSMS Seminar

September 16, 2021

Marine Mammal Diseases, Guest Lecture Hawaiʻi Pacific University Marine Mammal Course

April 2, 2021

Developing a Protective Immunity Enhanced Salmonella Vaccine Against Brucella melitensis, Presenter at the 99th Annual Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases

December 4, 2018

Phylogenomic Characterization of a Beluga Whale (Delphinapterus leucas) Alphaherpesvirus, Presenter at the 48th Annual International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine Conference

May 24, 2017

Phylogenomic Characterization of a Novel Sea Otter Poxvirus, Presenter at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine Research and PHI ZETA Celebration – Best in Show Graduate Student Research Competition and Third Place College Level Best Student Presentation Award

April 14, 2017

Phylogenomic Characterization of a Beluga Whale (Delphinapterus leucas) Alphaherpesvirus, Presenter at the 3rd Annual Wildlife & Aquatic Veterinary Disease Laboratory PALOOZA

March 31, 2017

Phylogenomic Characterization of a Novel Sea Otter Poxvirus, Presenter at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology – Best in Show Graduate Student Research Competition and First Place Department Level Best Student Presentation Award

March 1, 2017

Phylogenomic Characterization of Emerging Marine Mammal Viruses, Invited Seminar Speaker for the Freshwater Institute Seminar Series, University of Manitoba, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada

February 2, 2017

Phylogenomic Characterization of a Novel Sea Otter Poxvirus, Presenter at the Society for Marine Mammalogy’s Southeast Student Chapter 1st Annual Student Research Symposium – Third Place Best Student Presentation Award

November 12, 2016

Phylogenomic Characterization of a Novel Sea Otter Poxvirus, Guest Presenter at the Aquatic Animal Health Club Meeting

October 17, 2016

Phylogenomic Characterization of a Novel Sea Otter Poxvirus, Presenter at the 2nd Annual Wildlife & Aquatic Veterinary Disease Laboratory PALOOZA

April 6, 2016

Screening and Characterization of Morbillivirus in Hawaiian Cetaceans, Presenter at the 1st Annual Wildlife & Aquatic Veterinary Disease Laboratory PALOOZA

September 3, 2015

The Structure of DNA, Guest Lecture Hawaiʻi Pacific University Cellular and Molecular Biology Course

March 31, 2015

Screening and Characterization of Morbillivirus in Hawaiian Cetaceans, Presenter at the 20th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals

December 13, 2013

Screening and Characterization of Morbillivirus in Hawaiian Cetaceans, Presenter at the 44th Annual International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine Conference – First place in the Undergraduate Veterinary Student and Masters Student Category Presentation Award

April 25, 2013

Screening and Characterization of Morbillivirus in Hawaiian Cetaceans, Presenter at the 6th Annual Pacific Islands Marine Mammal Responders Meeting

October 23, 2012

Polymerase Chain Reaction, Guest Lecture Hawaiʻi Pacific University Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory

April 5, 2012

Screening and Characterization of Morbillivirus in Hawaiian Cetaceans, Presenter for the Hawaiʻi Pacific University, Faculty Scholarship Day Thesis Proposals for the Master of Science in Marine Science Program – Best Student Presentation Award

September 1, 2011

Phylogenomic Characterization of a Novel Sea Otter Poxvirus, Poster presentation at the Emerging Pathogens Institute Research Day

February 23, 2017

Phylogenomic Characterization of a Novel Sea Otter Poxvirus, Poster presentation at the 47th Annual International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine Conference – First place Student Poster Presentation Award

May 23, 2016

• Master of Science in Marine Science (MSMS) Primary Advisor, Hawaiʻi Pacific University
  • Aspen Pawlowski, MSMS Student (April 2025 – Present)
    • Project: Development of Brucella ceti Field Assay
  • Emma Phillips, MSMS Student (April 2025 – Present)
    • Project: Development of Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay to Identify Tuna Fish Species
• Master of Science in Marine Science Committee Member, Hawaiʻi Pacific University
  • The Reproductive Life History of Hawaiian Seagrass Halophila hawaiiana (April 2023)
    • Hawaii Pacific University Master of Science in Marine Science Thesis Defense (Presented by: Mikinley Weaver)
• Committee Member, Hawaiʻi Pacific University
  • College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Faculty Senate Representative (August 2024 – Present)
  • College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Faculty Promotion and Review Committee (April 2024 – May 2025)
  • College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Artificial Intelligence (AI) Taskforce (June 2025)
• Faculty Advisor, Hawaiʻi Pacific University
  • Christian Student Organization (January 2025 – Present)
• Founder and Program Coordinator, Research on Tap at Hawaiʻi Pacific University (September 2024 – Present)
• Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) Inspiration Lecture at Branson High School (March 2024)
• Hawaiʻi Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Longline Sea Turtle Necropsy (March 2024)
• Reviewer for Veterinary Research Communications (June 2022, August 2022, January 2023)
• Reviewer University Laboratory School Science Research Class (August 2022)
• Crystal River Manatee Health Assessments (February 2016, December 2016)
• Hawaiʻi Pacific University Cetacean Stranding Team (September 2008 – July 2015)
• Humpback Whale Sanctuary (February 2009 – July 2015)

• Hawaiʻi Pacific University, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Student Nominated Award: STEM Star Faculty (May 2025)
• Hawai’i Pacific University Golden Apple Award Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching by a Full-Time Faculty Member (May 2024)
• Hawaiʻi Pacific University, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Student Nominated Award: Marine Mammal Activist (May 2024)
• Hawaiʻi Pacific University, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Student Nominated Award: Biology Program Faculty Member of the Year (May 2023)
• American Association for the Advancement of Science: Science Program for Excellence in Science (January 2019 – Present)
• Hawaiʻi Pacific University, Phi Kappa Phi (December 2018)
• Hawaiʻi Pacific University, Golden Key International Honor Society (March 2017)
• Hawaiʻi Pacific University, Alpha Epsilon Lambda (October 2016)
• Colorado Northwestern Community College, Phi Theta Kappa (January 2008)
• Hawaiʻi Pacific University, Tri-Beta Honor Society (January 2010)
• Best Student Presentation for the Hawaiʻi Pacific University, Faculty Scholarship Day Thesis Proposals for the Master of Science in Marine Science Program (September 2011)
• First place in the Undergraduate Veterinary Student and Master Student Category for the 44th International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine Student Presentation Award (April 2013)
• First place Student Poster Presentation Award for the 47th International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine (May 2016)
• Third place Best Presentation Award for the Society for Marine Mammalogy’s Southeast Student Chapter 1st Annual Student Research Symposium (November 2016)
• First place Department Level Best Student Presentation Award for the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology Best in Show Graduate Student Research Competition (March 2017)
• Third place College Level Best Student Presentation Award for the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine Research and PHI ZETA Celebration Best in Show Graduate Student Research Competition (April 2017)