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)
Dr. Jason Rauceo is a professor of molecular biology in the Science Department. Dr. Rauceo received his doctorate in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology from The Graduate Center of The City University of New York. Dr. Rauceo's postdoctoral training focused on 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.
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. Additional research interests include the identification of novel antifungal compounds. His research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and fostered the training of numerous undergraduate science majors. 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.
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)
The American Society of Microbiology
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Recent Publications
- Chen, X., Qinguo, Z., Kaswer, A., Kim, H.*, Ahmed, M.*, Michelle, M.C., Cheng, S., Zhang, G., Rauceo, J.M. Indium(III)-terpyridine complexes: synthesis, structures and remarkable antifungal and anticancer activities. Dalton Trans. (2025) 54, 4656 PMID: 39964236. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2025/dt/d4dt03492a
- Kim H, Heredia MY, Chen X, Ahmed M, Qasim M, Callender TL, Hernday AD, Rauceo J.M. Mitochondrial targeting of Candida albicans SPFH proteins and requirement of stomatins for SDS-induced stress tolerance. PMID: 39641539 Microbiol Spectr (2024) 0:e01733-24. https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.01733-24
- 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
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
Our research focuses on the yeast, Candida albicans, which is the most commonly isolated fungal pathogen in clinical settings. Our research explores several critical aspects of C. albicans commensalism and pathogenesis. The first is to understand signaling mechanisms that promote 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. Lastly, we seek to identify and understand the mechanism-of-action for novel antifungal compounds.
