About

Email: jasonlgardiner@ucla.edu

Education

Ph.D. in biological sciences with specialization in plant biology; Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Alberta, Canada Faculty advisor: Dr. Enrico Scarpella  09/2016  
B.Sc. in biological sciences with specialization in plant biology; Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science University of Alberta, Canada04/2010  

 Research experience

Post-Doctoral fellow Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California Los Angeles, United States of America Faculty advisor: Dr. Steven E. Jacobsen  09/2016–  
Ph.D. student Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Canada Faculty advisor: Dr. Enrico Scarpella  09/2010–09/2016  
Research assistant Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Canada Faculty advisor: Dr. Enrico Scarpella  09/2008–08/2010  
Research assistant Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Canada Faculty advisor: Dr. Michael Deyholos05/2007–08/2008  

Teaching and advising experience

Volunteer assistant for MCDB 191- Epigenetics at the University of California Los Angeles  Winter Quarter 2021 Winter Quarter 2020
Supervised 8 undergraduate students at the University of California Los Angeles  2017–
Teaching assistant for Biology 207- Molecular genetics and heredity at the University of Alberta  Winter semester 2016
Teaching assistant for Botany 380- Drug Plants at the University of Alberta  Winter semester 2011
Supervised 3 undergraduate students at the University of AlbertaSpring semester 2016

Research

Patents

  1. Jacobsen S.E., Gallego-bartolomé J., Papikian A., Gardiner J. 2019. Targeted gene demethylation in plants. Publication number: US 2019/0352654 A1 Link 

Refereed publications

  1. Xue Y., Zhong Z., Harris C. J., Gallego-Bartolomé J., Wang M., Picard C., Cao X., Hua S., Kwok I., Feng S., Jami-Alahmadi Y., Sha J., Gardiner J., Wohlschlegel J., Jacobsen S. E.. 2021. Arabidopsis MORC proteins function in the efficient establishment of RNA directed DNA methylation. Nature Communications Link
  2. Ghoshal B.1 and Gardiner J.1. 2021. CRISPR-dCAS9 Based Targeted Manipulation of DNA Methylation in Plants. In CRISPR-Cas Methods Volume 2.  CRISPR-Cas Methods. Springer Protocols Handbooks. (2021)  1joint first authors. Link
  3. Liu W.1, Gallego-Bartolomé J.1, Zhou Y., Zhong Z., Wang M., Wongpalee S. P., Gardiner J., Feng S., Kuo P.H., Jacobsen S.E.. 2021 Ectopic targeting of CG DNA methylation in Arabidpsis with the bacterial SssI methyltransferase. Nature Communications. 1joint first authors. Link
  4. Gardiner J., Zhao J.M.C., Chaffin K., Jacobsen S.E.. 2020. Promoter and Terminator Optimization for DNA Methylation Targeting in Arabidopsis. Epigenomes. Link
  5. Gallego-Bartolomé J.1, Liu W.1, Kuo P.H., Feng S., Ghoshal B., Gardiner J., Zhao J.M.C., Park S.Y.,  Chory J., Jacobsen S.E.. 2019. Co-targeting RNA Polymerases IV and V Promotes Efficient De Novo DNA Methylation in Arabidopsis. Cell.1joint first authors. Link
  6. Gallego-Bartolomé J1., Gardiner J.1, Liu W.1, Papikian A.1, Ghoshal B., Kuo H.Y., Zhao J.M., Segal D.J., Jacobsen S.E. 2018. Targeted DNA demethylation of the Arabidopsis genome using the Human TET1 catalytic domain. PNAS 1joint first authors. Link
  7. Odat O.1, Gardiner J.1, Sawchuk M.G., Verna C., Donner T.J., Scarpella E. 2014. Characterization of an allelic series in the MONOPTEROS gene of Arabidopsis. Genesis. 1joint first authors. Link
  8. Gardiner J.1, Donner T.J.1, Scarpella E. 2011. Simultaneous activation of SHR and ATHB8 expression defines switch to preprocambial cell state in Arabidopsis leaf development. Developmental Dynamics. 1joint first authors. Link
  9. Gardiner J.1, Sherr I.1, Scarpella E. 2010. Expression of DOF genes identifies early stages of vascular development in Arabidopsis leaves. International Journal of Developmental Biology. 1joint first authors. Link

Pre-print publications

  1. Krishna A.1, Gardiner J.1, Donner T.J., Scarpella E.. 2020 Control of Vein-Forming, Striped Gene-Expression by Auxin Signaling. BioRxiv 1joint first authors. Link

Oral presentations at scientific meetings

  1. Gardiner J.1 Ghoshal B., Gallego-Bartolomé J., Liu W., Papikian A., Zhao J.M., and Jacobsen S.E. Building targeted DNA methylation tools for Cassava. Plant and Animal Genome Conference XXVIII. San Diego USA. Jan 10-15 2020.
  2. Gardiner J.1 , Ghoshal B., Gallego-Bartolomé J., Liu W., Papikian A., Zhao J.M., and Jacobsen S.E. Targeted Manipulation of DNA methylation. UCLA Molecular, Cell, and Developmental biology retreat. Santa Barbara, USA, December 6-8 2019
  3. Gardiner J.1, Donner T.J., Scarpella E. Control of SHORT-ROOT gene activation during early leaf development. RE Peter Conference Edmonton, Canada, Mar.5-6 2015.1presenting author
  4. Gardiner J.1, Donner T.J., Scarpella E. Control of leaf vein formation by auxin signalling. RE Peter Conference Edmonton, Canada, Feb. 27-28 2014.1presenting author

Poster presentations at scientific meetings

  1. Gardiner J.,1 Ghoshal B., Gallego-Bartolome J., Papikian A., Liu W., Jacobsen S.E., . CRISPR-mediated DNA demethylation targeting in plants. Genome Engineering: Frontiers of CRISPR/CAS. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories USA. October 10-13 2019 1presenting author
  2. Gardiner J.,1 Zhao J.M., Chaffin K., and Jacobsen S.E., Improving targeted editing of DNA Methylation through differential expression. Howard Hughes Medical Investigator meeting Chevy Chase USA. September 17-20 2019. 1presenting authorGallego-Bartolomé J.,
  3. Gardiner J1., Liu W., Papikian A., Ghoshal B., Kuo H.Y., Zhao J.M., Segal D.J., Jacobsen S.E. Targeted DNA demethylation of the Arabidopsis genome using the Human TET1 catalytic domain. 2018. Keystone DNA and RNA Methylation. Vancouver, Canada. January 21-25 2018. 1presenting author.
  4. Gardiner J.1, Donner T.J., Scarpella E. Control of leaf vein formation by an auxin signaling Threshold. Plant Biology. Minneapolis, USA July. 26-30 2015.1presenting author
  5. Gardiner J.1, Donner T.J., Scarpella E. Control of leaf vein formation by auxin signalling. RE Peter Conference Edmonton, Canada, Feb. 27-28 2014.1presenting author
  6. Gardiner J.1, Donner T.J., Scarpella E. Control of leaf vein formation by auxin signaling. ICAR 2013 Sydney, Australia, June 24-28 2013. 1presenting author

Awards and fellowships

Fellowships
Post Graduate Scholarship (Doctoral) National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)05/2012–05/2015
Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Student Award09/2015-04/2016
Alexander Graham Bell Canadian Graduate Scholarship (Masters) National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)05/2011–05/2012
Walter H. Johns Graduate Fellowship09/2011–09/2012 
Academic, service, and teaching recognition  
Department of Biological Sciences Teaching Award04/2016-04/2017
Interdepartmental Science Students’ Society Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award01/2016-01/2017 
Alberta Graduate Student Scholarship02/2012–02/2013 
Alberta Society of Professional Biologists Scholarship09/2011–09/2012 
President’s Doctoral Prize of Distinction09/2014–09/2015 
President’s Doctoral Prize of Distinction09/2013–09/2014 
President’s Doctoral Prize of Distinction09/2012–09/2013 
Bill Samuel Graduate Student Service Award04/2013–04/2014 
Travel awards  
University of Alberta Graduate Student Association’s Professional Development Award07/2015-07/2016 
 J. Gordin Kaplan Graduate Student Award05/2015–05/2016 
Dr. Edwin A Cossins Graduate Scholarship in Plant Molecular Biology03/2015–03/2016 
 University of Alberta Graduate Student Association’s Professional Development Award06/2013–06/2014 
University of Alberta Department of Biological Sciences Travel Award06/2013–06/2014 

Professional service

Educational outreach 
The History of Hot Chocolate in 15min or Less presented at the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden’s Botany of the Holidays05/12/2019
  Judge at the Edmonton Regional Science Fair04/9/2016
  How to create new plants. Presented for Ideas Day at Mckernan junior high school Edmonton, Alberta.02/18/2015
  Plants: What are they good for and how do we modify them. Presented to grade 8-9 students from the Gramina junior high school, Spruce Grove, Alberta and grade 10-11 students at The Holy Trinity high school, Edmonton, Alberta  01/20/2015 05/26/2014
Science Days at Leduc and Stony Plain Brightpath learning centers. various science related demonstrations given to children 5-10 years old, Stony Plain, Alberta08/13/2014 07/22/2014 07/04/2014 07/03/2014
Plant Breeding and GMOs. Presented to three grade 7 classes at Archbishop Joseph MacNeil school, Edmonton, Alberta.  04/08/2014
Committee experience 
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research Councilor – University of Alberta  09/2013–05/2015
Graduate Student Representative-Plant Biology interest group at the University of Alberta  09/2012–01/2015
Web master-Biology Graduate Students Association at the University of Alberta  12/2012–09/2014
Peer review 
Ad hoc reviewer for Plant physiology, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, and Plants