About Me
Ph.D. Student | Evolutionary Biology | Texas A&M University
- Welcome! I'm Jorja Elliott, and I am currently a second year Ph.D. student in the Biology Department of Texas A&M University.
- Email: jorjaelliott@tamu.edu
- Department Phone: (979) 845-7747
- Website: jorjaelliott.github.io
- Research Interests: Plant Biology, Quantitative Genetics & Genomics
Biography
Explore my current and previous research, as well as my professional experiences.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Biology
2021 - present
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Studying epistatic gene action and additive gene action to understand how organisms respond to changes in environment or domestication
Bachelor of Science in Biology
2017 - 2021
Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS
Graduated with Honors
Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science Graduate
2017 - 2019
Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS
Professional Experience
Graduate Research Assistant
2022 - present
Texas A&M University
Graduate Teaching Assistant
2021 - 2022
Texas A&M University
- Teaching Assistantship through the Lower Division Introductory Biology Program at Texas A&M University
- Fall 2021 Laboratory Teaching Assistant for Introductory Biology 111, U 60 students
- Spring 2022 Laboratory Teaching Assistant for Introductory Biology 112, U 50 students
- Fall 2022 Laboratory Teaching Assistant for Introductory Biology 111 Honors, U 24 students
Research Assistant
Summer 2020
Heartland Plant Innovations, Manhattan, KS
- This facility produces double haploid strains of wheat with the goal of producing genetically pure plant lines that serve to accelerate the breeding process, offer a quick route to new gene transformations, disease resistance, and improved quality and yield.
- I learned commercially-oriented research techniques, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gel electrophoresis analysis of genes, emasculation, embryo rescue, application of hormonal treatments, and disease management.
Gene x Environment quantitative analysis
Current Project
Use line cross analysis to determine the proportion of epistatic gene action that underlies the traits responsible for serpentine tolerance (low Ca, high heavy metals, drought tolerance) in Caulanthus amplexicaulis sister species
Estimating PAR size
Current Project
Identifying the degree to which selection on epistatic interactions has led to reductions in recombination to such a degree that it has selected for changes in sex chromosomes
Evolution of traits in S. pennellii and S. lycopersicon
Current Project
What proportion of trait divergence among tomato species is due to epistatic variation? By observing morphological and life history traits across seven crosses of tomatoes, I will use a quantitative genetics method, line cross analysis, to infer the net genetic architecture for traits that have diverged in the parental lines.