Willamette University

Biology

Jason Edward Duncan
  • Jason Edward Duncan
  • Assistant Professor of Biology
  • Molecular Geneticist
  • Olin Science Center 209
  • 503-370-6827
  • Fax: 503-375-5425

Jason Edward Duncan

 

Education

  • Ph.D., University of Southern California, 2002

Teaching Philosophy

My philosophy on teaching has been greatly influenced by my experience as a student as by my experience and training as a teacher. Throughout my academic career, I was fortunate to have been influenced by an array of exemplary teachers and mentors as well as a few less than ideal teachers; all have greatly impacted my teaching philosophy. My ultimate goal as a teacher, beyond teaching my students fundamental concepts in biology, is to assist them into becoming critical thinkers and independent learners.

Research Interests

The transport of proteins, mRNA transcripts and organelles within a cell facilitates their localization to discreet cellular domains for specific cellular functions. Active transport systems are complex, highly coordinated and utilized in a diverse array of cellular activities including axonal transport, organelle movement, chromosome segregation and vesicle motion. This extensive range of action is indicative of the importance of cellular transport systems in the fundamental biology of the cell and foreshadows the consequences when they become perturbed in multicellular organisms. My current research interests aim to identify components of microtubule based transport systems in the cell.

Publications

  • Duncan, J.E. and L.S.B. Goldstein. 2006. The genetics of axonal transport and axonal transport disorders. PloS Genetics. 2(9): 1275-1284
  • Bornemann, D.J., J.E. Duncan, W. Staatz, S. Selleck, R. Warrior. 2004. Abrogation of heparan sulfate synthesis in Drosophila disrupts the Wingless, Hedgehog and Decapentaplegic signaling pathways. Development. 131:1927-1938
  • Duncan, J.E. and R. Warrior. 2002. The cytoplasmic dynein and kinesin motors have interdependent roles in patterning the Drosophila oocyte. Current Biology. 12(23):1982-1991
  • Duncan, J.E., Hatch, G.M., Belik, J. 1996. Susceptibility of exogenous surfactant to phospholipase A2 degradation. Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 74(8):957-63