Education
Postdoctoral, Columbia University (2008, Microbial Genetics)
Ph.D., The Graduate Center of The City University of New York (2006, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology)
MPhil., The Graduate Center of The City University of New York (2002, Biology)
B.A., Hunter College of The City University of New York (1999, Biology)
Bio
Dr. Jason Rauceo is an Associate Professor of Molecular Biology in the Science Department. Dr. Rauceo received his doctorate in Molecular Biology from The Graduate Center of The City University of New York and completed his postdoctoral training in Microbial Genetics at Columbia University. He has taught and developed a variety of courses in the Biological Sciences with an emphasis on experiential-based learning. Currently, he is the Director of The Cell and Molecular Biology Major and Biology Minor undergraduate programs.
Dr. Rauceo’s research focuses on the major human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. His research objectives are to understand the molecular mechanisms that govern fungal adhesion to host tissue and to uncover the signaling pathways that mediate stress adaptation. He has authored several peer-reviewed articles, and his research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). His biomedical research program has fostered the training of numerous undergraduate students, and he is committed to student mentoring. Since joining John Jay in 2008, Dr. Rauceo has received several awards by the College, University, and New York City Council for student mentoring, research, and service.
JJC Affiliations
Professional Memberships
American Society of Microbiology
Course Taught
Courses Taught
- General Biology I (lecture)
- General Biology I (laboratory)
- General Biology II (lecture)
- Microbiology (lecture and course coordinator)
- Genetics (lecture)
- Molecular Biology (lecture)
- Molecular Biology (laboratory)
- Environmental Science (laboratory)
Scholarly Work
Recent Publications
- Conrad, K.A.; Kim, H.; Qasim, M., Djehal, A., Hernday, A.D.; Desaubry, L.; Rauceo, J.M. Triazine-Based Small Molecules: A potential New Class of Compounds in the Antifungal Toolbox. Pathogens 2023, 12, 126. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/1/126
- Lipke, P.N.; Rauceo, J.M.; Vilijoen, A. Cell-Cell Mating Interactions: Overview and Potential of Single-Cell Force Spectroscopy. Int. J. Mol. Sci. (2022), 23, 110. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23031110
- Heredia, M.Y. and Rauceo, J.M. The SPFH Protein Superfamily in Fungi: Impact on Mitochondrial Function and Implications in Virulence. Microorganisms (2021), 9, 2287. PMID: 34835412. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9112287. Invited Review
- Mathelié-Guinlet, M., Viela, F., Dehullu, J., Filimonava, S., Rauceo, J.M., Lipke, P.N. and Dufrene, Y.F. Single-cell fluidic force microscopy reveals stress-dependent molecular interactions in yeast mating. Commun Biol 4, 33 (2021). PMID 33397995. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-020-01498-9
- Heredia, M.Y., Gunasekaran, D., Ikeh MAC, Gunasekaran D, Nobile CJ, and Rauceo, J.M. (2020). Transcriptional regulation of the caspofungin-induced cell wall damage response in Candida albicans. Curr Genet. PMID: 32876716. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00294-020-01105-8. Invited Review
- Heredia MY, Ikeh MAC, Gunasekaran D, Conrad KA, Filimonava S, Marotta DH, Nobile CJ, and Rauceo, J.M. (2020). An expanded cell wall damage signaling network is comprised of the transcription factors Rlm1 and Sko1 in Candida albicans. PLoS Genet 16(7): e1008908. PMID: 326399995. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1008908.
- Ho V, Herman-Bausier P, Shaw C, Conrad K.A., Garcia-Sherman M.C., Draghi J, Dufrene Y.F., Lipke P.N., and Rauceo J.M. (2019). An amyloid core sequence in the major Candida albicans adhesin Als1p mediates cell-cell adhesion. mBio 10:e01766-19. PMID: 31594814. PMCID: 31594814 https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.01766-19
- Conrad, K.A., Rodriguez, R., Salcedo, E.C., and Rauceo, J.M. (2018). The Candida albicans stress response gene Stomatin Like Protein 3 is implicated in ROS-induced apoptotic-like death of yeast phase cells. PLoS ONE. 13(2) e0182250. PMCID: 29389961 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0192250
Recent Federal Grants
2021-2025, National Institutes of Health (NIH award# SC3-GM135016): Control of Mitochondrial Function by SPFH Proteins in Pathogenic Yeast
Role: Principal Investigator; $482,940 awarded
2015-2019, National Institutes of Health (NIH award# SC3-GM111133): Pathogenic Yeast Stress Signaling Networks
Role: Principal Investigator; $470,688 awarded
2014-2020, National Science Foundation (NSF award# DUE-1259769): The John Jay Forensic Science and Computer Science Scholarship Program
Role: Co-Principal Investigator; $632,174 awarded
Honors and Awards
2022, John Jay College Scholarly Excellence Research Award
2021, John Jay College Outstanding Scholarly Mentor Awardee
2015, Recipient of the New York City Council Proclamation for Science Education and Mentoring
2014, John Jay College Distinguished Service to Students Awardee
2014, John Jay College Outstanding Scholarly Mentor Awardee
2010 - 2019, City University of New York Salute to Scholars recipient
Research Summary
Our current research focus is the major fungal pathogen, Candida albicans, which infects over 60,000 people per year in the United States. Our research explores two critical aspects of C. albicans pathogenesis. The first is to understand stress response signaling mechanisms in C. albicans that promote its survival in the presence of antifungal drugs and contribute to drug resistance. Second, we seek to determine the molecular mechanism of C. albicans adhesin proteins that mediate attachment to host surfaces and cellular aggregation.
