Biography

Jeramia Ory is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics and a DEI Education Specialist in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. As a Certified Diversity Facilitrainer, he develops and facilitates multiple identity experiences for academic and non-profit organizations. In addition, as a science faculty member, he brings a unique academic teaching and research lens to his practice of equity and inclusion facilitation. He is committed to teaching, learning, and dismantling all forms of systemic oppression in our society.

Before moving to WashU, he taught at the undergraduate and professional levels for over fifteen years. His classes include Biochemistry, Genetics, Molecular Biology, and Introduction to Data Science. His scientific research interests include the role of metal ions in fungal pathogenesis, fungal response to high metal levels in the soil, and bioinformatic characterization of mitochondrial heteroplasmy.

Interests

  • Social Justice / Anti-Racism
  • Data Analytics
  • Bioinformatics / Genomics

Education

  • PhD in Biochemistry

    University of Minnesota

  • BS in Biochemistry

    University of Nebraska

Experience

 
 
 
 
 

Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics

Washington University School of Medicine

Dec 2023 – Present St. Louis, MO
 
 
 
 
 

DEI Education Specialist

Washington University School of Medicine

Feb 2022 – Present St. Louis, MO
  • Scripted and produced the video “Why Are We Starting With Race?” in collaboration with the Instructional Design Studio in support of the Understanding Systemic Racism curriculum.
  • Automated retrieving, filtering, and analyzing all employee compliance data from Learn@Work.
  • Delivered Diversity 1.0 - 4.0 to faculty and staff at the School of Medicine.
  • Authored facilitation guides and SOPs to enable consistent training experiences across facilitators.
 
 
 
 
 

Certified Diversity Facilitrainer

NCCJ St. Louis

Jan 2018 – Present St. Louis, MO
  • Successfully completed the Facilitrainer Certification Program
  • Co-designed and delivered the professional Social Awareness and Cultural Sensitivity co-curriculum at the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis
  • Facilitated conversations about race as part of DAP’s Listen, Talk, Learn series
  • Co-designed and delivered a 3-day workshop about social identities and systems of oppression called “Building Inclusive Campuses” for St. Louis Community College board members, adminstration, faculty and staff
 
 
 
 
 

Associate Professor of Biochemistry

University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis

Aug 2015 – Feb 2022 St. Louis, MO
  • Research advisor, junior through Professional Year 4 students.
  • Classes taught: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Genetics (PharmD Program), Introduction to Data Science, Introductory Chemistry
  • Undergraduate Health Professions Advisor
  • Chair, Undergraduate Admissions and Progressions
 
 
 
 
 

Assistant and Associate Professor of Biology

King’s College

Aug 2006 – Aug 2015 Wilkes-Barre, PA
  • Research advisor, freshman through senior students
  • Classes taught
    • Genetics
    • Biochemistry
    • Cell and Molecular Biology
    • Junior Research Seminar
    • Bioinorganic Chemistry
    • Human Genetics (Physician Assistant Program)
  • Health Professions Advisor
  • Chair, Academic and Professional Affairs Committee
 
 
 
 
 

Biochemical Information Specialist

Rutger’s University

Dec 2004 – Aug 2006 Piscataway, NJ
  • Standardize the chemical information content of the PDB ligand database using a combination of commercially available libraries and open source tools.
  • Annotation of submitted macromolecular structures
  • Assurance of proper data structure
  • Author correspondence.
 
 
 
 
 

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Washington University School of Medicine

Sep 1998 – Oct 2004 St. Louis, MO
  • Characterized a novel copper sensing and transport system in the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans.
  • Supervised the construction of molecular tools utilizing this system as an inducible promoter.
  • Developed purification protocols, characterized and crystallized nucleotide sugar processing enzymes from the same organism.
  • As a member of a structural genomics team, purified and crystallized protein complexes associated with Helicobacter pylori pathogenicity islands.
  • Using NMR spectroscopy, designed millisecond timescale experiments (TROSY- CPMG) to study the dynamics of intestinal fatty acid binding protein mutants found in the human population.
  • Established automatic scripts to streamline high volume data processing.

Skills

Teaching

90%

R

50%

Python

50%

Cooking

90%

Woodworking

40%

Projects

Publications

Cell Envelope Integrity and Capsule Characterization of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa Strains from Clinical and Environmental Sources

Rhodotorula yeasts are pink, encapsulated basidiomycetes isolated from a variety of environments and clinical settings. They are …
Johnathan Yockey, Luke Andres, Moleigh Carson, Jeramia J Ory, Amy J Reese

The role of host gender in the pathogenesis of Cryptococcus neoformans infections

Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn) is a pathogenic yeast and the cause of cryptococcal meningitis. Prevalence of disease between males and …
Erin E McClelland, Letizia M Hobbs, Johanna Rivera, Arturo Casadevall, Wayne K Potts, Jennifer M Smith, Jeramia J Ory
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