BRIAN P. PIASECKI
Department of Biology Lawrence University, Appleton, WI 54911
(920) 832-7161, brian.p.piasecki@lawrence.edu
PROFFESIONAL APPOINTMENTS
2013-current, Assistant Professor of Biology, Lawrence University, USA
2012-2013, Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology, Lawrence University, USA
2010-2012, Post-doctoral Fellow, Lawrence University, USA
2008-2010, Post-doctoral Fellow, Karolinska Institute, Sweden
2003-2008, Teaching & Research Assistant, University of Minnesota, USA
2002-2003, Liquid Culture Transfers, UTEX Culture Collection of Algae, University of Texas, USA
2001-2003, Teaching Assistant, University of Texas, USA
2000-2001, Field Assistant, Lewisville Aquatic Ecosystem Research Facility (LAERF), USA
EDUCATION
Post-doctoral Fellow, Lawrence University, USA
Project: Functional genomics of the cilium in Caenorhabditis elegans
Post-doctoral advisors: Professor Bart T. De Stasio Jr. & Professor Elizabeth A. De Stasio
Post-doctoral Fellow, Karolinska Institute, Sweden
Project: The transcriptional regulation of ciliary genes
Postdoctoral advisor: Assistant Professor Peter Swoboda
Ph.D., 2008, University of Minnesota, USA
Dissertation: A biochemical and genetic approach to understand the function of UNI2, a gene encoding a novel basal body protein in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Thesis advisor: Professor Carolyn D. Silflow
M.A., 2003, University of Texas at Austin, USA
Thesis: Cryopreservation of Chlamydomonas reinahardtii: A cause of low viability at high cell density
Thesis advisor: Professor Jerry J. Brand
B.S., 2001, University of North Texas, USA
Undergraduate research advisor: Professor James Kennedy
FELLOWSHIPS & AWARDS
2018, Mortar Board Honorary Award, Lawrence University
2010-2012, Lawrence University Fellowship
2008-2009, J William Fulbright Fellowship
2008, Harold C. Bold Award, Phycological Society of America
2007-2008, Microbial and Plant Genomics Institute Research Fellowship, University of MN
2005, Croasdale Fellowship, Phycological Society of America
2005, Friday Harbor Labs Scholarship, University of Washington
2003, Hoshaw Travel Award, Phycological Society of America
RESEARCH GRANTS
2018, Wisconsin Alliance for Minority Participation, Grant #1400815, Co-PI “Supporting Students of Color in STEM: Retention, Leadership, Career Development” $23,408.
2017, Wisconsin Alliance for Minority Participation, Grant #210161, Co-PI “Supporting students of color in STEM using inclusive education strategies” $9106
2011, National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation Grant #1126711, Co-PI “Acquisition of confocal microscopy instrumentation for undergraduate research and research training” $552,666.
2009, Lars Hiertas Minne Research Grant, Sweden, “The molecular dynamics of centrioles: A bioinformatic and model systems approach” 50,000 SEK/$7200
RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS (* Lawrence University Undergraduates)
De Stasio EA, Mueller KP*, Bauer RJ*, Hurlburt AJ*, Bice SA*, Scholtz SL*, Phirke P, Sugiaman-Trapman D, Stinson LA*, Olson HB*, Vogel SL*, Ek-Vazques Z*, Esemen Y*, Korzynski J*, Wolfe K*, Arbuckle BN*, Zhang H*, Lombard-Knapp G*, Piasecki BP, Swoboda P. 2018 An expanded role for the RFX transcription factor DAF-19, with dual functions in ciliated and nonciliated neurons. Genetics. 208, 1083-1097.
Piasecki BP, Sasani TA*, Lessenger AT*, Huth N*, Farrell S*. 2017 MAPK-15 is a ciliary protein required for PKD-2 localization and male mating behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans. Cytoskeleton. 74, 390-402. (and Cover Photograph, October 2017)
Henriksson J, Piasecki BP, Lend K, Bürglin T, Swoboda P. 2013 Finding ciliary genes – a computation approach. Methods in Enzymology. 525, 327-350.
Burghoorn J#, Piasecki BP#, Crona F, Phirke P, Jeppsson KE, Swoboda P. 2012 The in vivo dissection of direct RFX-target gene promoters in C. elegans reveals a novel cis-regulatory element, the C-box. Developmental Biology. 368, 415-426. #Joint First Authors
O’Hagan R, Piasecki BP, Silva M, Phirke P, Nguyen K, Hall D, Swoboda P, Barr M. 2011 The tubulin deglutamylase CCPP-1 regulates the function and stability of sensory cilia in C. elegans. Current Biology. 21, 1685-1694.
Phirke P, Efimenko E, Mohan S, Burghoorn J, Crona F, Trieb M, Schuske K, Jorgensen EM, Piasecki BP, Leroux MR, Swoboda P. 2011 Transcriptional profiling of C. elegans DAF-19 uncovers a ciliary base-associated protein and a CDK/CCRK/LF2p-related kinase required for intraflagellar transport. Developmental Biology. 357, 235-247.
Piasecki BP, Burghoorn J, and Swoboda P. 2010 Regulatory Factor X (RFX)-mediated transcriptional rewiring of ciliary genes in animals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences U S A 107, 12969-12974.
Piasecki BP, Diller KR, and Brand JJ. 2009 Cryopreservation of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: A cause of low viability at high cell density. Cryobiology 58, 103-109.
Piasecki BP and Silflow CD. 2009 The UNI1 and UNI2 genes function in the transition of triplet to doublet microtubules between the centriole and cilium in Chlamydomonas. Molecular Biology of the Cell 20, 368-378 (and Cover Photograph, January 2009)
Piasecki BP, LaVoie M, Tam L-W, Lefebvre PA, and Silflow CD. 2008 The Uni2 phosphoprotein is a cell cycle-regulated component of the basal body maturation pathway in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Molecular Biology of the Cell 19, 262-273.
MEETING ABSTRACTS (* LAWRENCE UNDERGRADUATES)
Piasecki BP, Huth N*. 2017 Identification of genetic suppressors of mapk-15: a gene required for polycystin localization in Caenorhabditis elegans. 21st International C. elegans meeting. Los Angeles, CA (USA)
De Stasio B, De Stasio E, Hakes A, Piasecki B. 2017 Creating Learning Community in the Sciences. 2017 Diversity Summit. Appleton, WI (USA) #Selected for plenary talk
Piasecki BP, Sasani T*, O’Flaherety B*, Henriksson J, De Stasio E, Swoboda P. 2016 Comparative genomics reveals novel genes associated with sensory cilia. The Allied Genetics Conference. Orlando, FL (USA)
Piasecki BP, Sasani T*, O’Flaherety B*, Swords T*, Henriksson J, De Stasio E, Swoboda P. 2014 Comparative genomics reveals novel genes associated with sensory cilia. Cilia. Paris (France)
Sasani T*, Newsom O*, O’Flaherety B*, Swords T*, Henriksson J, De Stasio E, Swoboda P, Piasecki BP. 2014 Comparative genomics reveals novel genes associated with sensory cilia. C. elegans. Topic Meeting: Neuronal Development, Synaptic Function and Behavior. Madison, WI (USA)
Sasani T*, Newsom O*, Landes E*, O’Flaherety B*, Swords T*, Henriksson J, De Stasio E, Swoboda P, Piasecki BP. 2014 Comparative genomics reveals novel genes associated with sensory cilia. Midstates Consortium Research Symposium in the Biological Sciences and Psychology. St. Louis, MO (USA)
Landes E*, O’Flaherty B*, De Stasio E, Swoboda P, Piasecki BP. 2012 The tubulin deglutamylase CCPP-6 functions exclusively in ciliated dopaminergic neurons in C. elegans. C. elegans Development, Cell Biology, & Gene Expression Meeting. Madison, WI (USA)
Burghoorn J, Piasecki BP, Jeppsson KE, Crona F, Sahlin S, Phirke P, Swoboda P. 2011 Transcriptional regulation of ciliary genes in C. elegans. 18th International C. elegans meeting. Los Angeles, CA (USA)
Piasecki BP, Burghoorn J, Swoboda P. 2010 RFX mediated transcriptional rewiring of ciliary genes in animals. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) conference on The Biology of Cilia and Flagella. Saxtons River, VT (USA)
Piasecki BP, Burghoorn J, Swoboda P 2010 RFX mediated transcriptional rewiring of ciliary genes in animals. The 3rd Annual Nordic C. elegans Network Meeting, Tallinn (Estonia)
Piasecki BP, Burghoorn J, Swoboda P. 2009 Towards identifying and characterizing evolutionarily conserved cilia genes with sensory specific functions. European Worm Neurobiology Meeting 2009, Cambridge (UK).
Piasecki BP, Swoboda P. 2009 4D microscopy reveals the centriolar and ciliary cycle of the developing C. elegans embryo. The 2nd annual Nordic C. elegans Network Meeting. Hangö (Finland)
Piasecki BP, Silflow CD. 2008 Uniflagellar mutants in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii provide insights into basal body maturation and flagellar formation. The 62nd Annual Meeting of The Phycological Society of America. New Orleans, LA (USA)
Piasecki BP, Silflow CD. 2008 The uni2 mutant of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii provides insights into the pathway of axonemal assembly. The 13th International Conference on the Cell and Molecular Biology of Chlamydomonas. Hyères-les-Palmiers (France)
Piasecki BP, Silflow CD. 2007 The Uni2 protein is a cell-cycle regulated marker of basal bodies in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) conference on The Biology of Cilia and Flagella. Saxtons River, VT (USA)
Piasecki BP, Wu W, LaVoie M, Tam L-W, Lefebvre PA, Silflow CD. 2006 The UNI2 gene in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii encodes a component of basal bodies and probasal bodies. The 12th International Conference on the Cell and Molecular Biology of Chlamydomonas. Portland, OR (USA)
Piasecki BP, Wu W, LaVoie M, Tam L-W, Lefebvre PA, Silflow CD. 2005 The UNI2 gene in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii encodes a component of basal bodies and probasal bodies. The 45th Annual Meeting of The American Society for Cell Biology. San Francisco, CA (USA)
Piasecki BP, Diller KR, Brand JJ. 2003 Cryopreservation of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (Chlorophyta): A cause of low viability at high cell density. The 57th Annual Meeting of The Phycological Society of America. Gleneden Beach, OR (USA)
Piasecki BP, Diller KR, Brand JJ. 2002 Survival of Chlamydomonas reinhartdtii subsequent to cryopreservation is prevented by a substance release from damaged cells. The 56th Annual Meeting of The Phycological Society of America. Madison, WI (USA)
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP
The American Society for Cell Biology
The Genetics Society of America
PEDAGOGICAL TRAINING
2018, Courage to Teach Workshop, Lawrence University
2015, Workshop on Stereotype Threat by Valerie Purdie-Vaughns Ph.D., Lawrence University
2013, Question Persuade Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Training, Lawrence University
2011, New Faculty Workshop – Strategic Planning for Early Career Success, Hope College
2005, Teaching in Higher Education (3 credit course), University of Minnesota
2002, Biological Sciences Teaching Enrichment Program, University of Texas
OTHER TRAINING & PRACTICAL COURSES
2013, Hopkins Microbiology Course, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, USA
2010, Practical course on C. elegans confocal microscopy, Molecular Imaging Center (MIC) University of Bergen, Norway
2005, Marine algae (9 credits), Friday Harbor Laboratories (FHL), University of Washington, USA
JOURNAL/BOOK PHOTO CREDITS
Brooker R., Widmaier E.P., Graham L.E., Stiling P.D. (2011) Biology 2nd Ed. McGraw Hill, New York, NY, 1440 pp.
Stocker R. and Durham W.M. (2009) Microbiology. Tumbling for stealth? Science. 325(5939), 400-402.
Koukkari, W.L. and Sothern, R.B. (2006) Introducing Biological Rhythms: A Primer on the Temporal Organization of Life, with Implications for Health, Society, Reproduction, and the Natural Environment. Springer, New York, NY, 658 pp.
COURSES TAUGHT (CURRENT & PREVIOUS)
Freshman Studies (FRST 100) – A cornerstone course for all Freshman at Lawrence University where works of major importance are read, watched, or listened to and then analyzed. Critical thinking and writing skills are heavily emphasized (three discussion sections per week).
Integrative Biology: Cells to organisms (Biol 130) – An introductory lecture and laboratory course in molecular and cellular biology. Cellular metabolism, structure, signaling, and genetics are all framed through an evolutionarily relevant context (three lectures and one lab per week).
Microbiology (Biol 226) – An intermediate level lecture and laboratory course in which microbial diversity and techniques are explored. An emphasis is placed on metabolically, ecologically, and medically relevant organisms and processes (three lectures and one lab per week).
Evolutionary Biology (Biol 235) – An intermediate level lecture and discussion course that utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to explore mechanisms of evolution. This speaking intensive course focuses on understanding major patterns of evolution (two lectures and one discussion per week).
Cell Biology (Biol 325) – An upper level lecture, lab, and discussion course that explores eukaryotic cellular features. An emphasis is placed on evolutionarily conserved cellular processes that link structure to function. Biological imaging, which is pivotal in experimental cell biology, is emphasized throughout this course (two lectures, one lab, and one discussion per week).
LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY SERVICE (TERMINAL & ONGOING)
2018 – present, Inclusive Pedagogy Committee – Faculty committee that meets regularly to the integration of pedagogical techniques into our diverse learning environment.
2017 – present, Founding Member of Lawrence University’s Biracial/Multiethnic Group – An affinity group that discusses issues pertaining to biracial and/or multiethnic experiences.
2016 – present, Faculty Representative to the Lawrence University Community Council – Biweekly meetings to review, amend, and approve/deny legislation & policies, student group formation, and budget.
2015 – present, Men Against Rape and Sexual Assault (MARS) Faculty Advisor – Provide ongoing guidance and support, including attending regular meetings and assisting with event planning.
2014 – 2016, Instruction Committee Member – Faculty committee that meets regularly to discuss new course proposals, technology, and review academic petitions.
LAWRENCE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH STUDENTS
A total of 17 students have participated in significant undergraduate research projects in my lab (enrolled in >2 terms of independent studies or at least one summer research experience). Most have gone on to advanced degrees in the following areas:
Ph.D. Programs, earned or in progress: 5 students (29%)
M.D. or D.O. Programs, earned or in progress: 3 students (18%)
Other Graduate School Programs, earned or in progress: 1 student (5%)
Other forms of Employment: 4 students (24%)
Still enrolled at LU: 4 students (24%)
Total: 17 students (100%)