Fernando Rodriguez Headshot

Fernando Rodriguez

Research Scientist

Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences
College of Science
Adjunct Faculty

585-475-2811
Office Location

Fernando Rodriguez

Research Scientist

Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences
College of Science
Adjunct Faculty

Bio

My research as molecular biologist lies at the junction of molecular evolution, comparative genomics and epigenetics in the field of gene silencing/activation in metazoans. During my career I have used a broad range of tools and approaches which span familiarity with population genetics, biogeography, gene evolution, comparative genomics and epigenetic regulation. I seek to address the mechanisms that eukaryotic cells can deploy in order to repress foreign genetic invasions, like transposable elements (TEs) or foreign genes acquired by horizontal gene transfer (HTG). To this point my work has focused on he role of epigenetics. Epigenetics can be defined as the study of biological mechanisms that are able to regulate gene expression and function that cannot be explained by changes in DNA sequence. These mechanisms include covalent modification of histones, DNA methylation and non-coding RNAs pathways.

Currently Teaching

BIOL-530
3 Credits
Bioinformatics Algorithms will focus on the types of analyses, tools, and databases that are available and commonly used in Bioinformatics. The labs will apply the lecture material in the analysis of real data through computer programming.
BIOL-630
3 Credits
Bioinformatics Algorithms will focus on the types of analyses, tools, and databases that are available and commonly used in Bioinformatics. The labs will apply the lecture material in the analysis of real data through computer programming.
ENVS-790
1 - 4 Credits
The thesis option will be available to environmental science graduate students only with prior written approval of program faculty. Students will submit a proposal to a faculty member who agrees to serve as the student's thesis committee chair. The proposal will describe the basic research question to be investigated and the experimental protocols to be employed. Proposals will be reviewed by the program faculty who will give permission to register for thesis credit. This course may be taken several times over the course of a student's graduate program, for variable credits. A written thesis and oral defense are required at the completion of the thesis research.
ENVS-795
1 - 4 Credits
This course is a graduate level, faculty-directed, student project or research involving laboratory or field work, computer modeling, or theoretical calculations that could be considered of an original nature. The level of study is appropriate for students in Environmental Science graduate program.