Dr. J. Jordan Steel
iGEM Principal Investigator &
Assistant Professor of Biology
Bio
Dr. J. Jordan Steel is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology. His background is in Molecular Virology and conducts research with potential antivirals, viral manipulation of host cells, and viral engineering. Dr. Steel is passionate about biology education and enjoys teaching engaging courses such as microbiology and cell and molecular biology. He is currently helping advise USAFA’s international genetically engineered machine (iGEM) team where cadets get to conduct genetic engineering research and compete in an international competition. When Dr. Steel is not teaching or doing research, he enjoys being outside, playing games, and raising hedgehogs with his wife and 5 kids.
Education
Post-doctoral fellowship (Dr. Rushika Perera, mentor) Arthropod-Borne Infectious Disease Lab, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colo. (2015)
PhD, Cell and Molecular Biology (Dr. Brian Geiss, mentor) Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colo. (2014)
Bachelor of Science, Biology, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho (2008)
Professional Experience
Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. (2018-Present)
Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Colorado State University-Pueblo, Colo. (2015-2018)
Online Instructor, Department of Biology, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho (2014-2015)
Adjunct Faculty, Department of Basic Science, Front Range Community College, Colo. (2014-2015)
Honors & Awards
CSU Pueblo University Award for Excellence in Teaching (2017-2018)
National Association of Biology Teachers: University Biology Teaching Award (2017)
Publications
Rebekah C Gullberg, J. Jordan Steel, Venugopal Pujari, Joel Rovnak, Dean C. Crick, Rushika Perera. Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 differentiates early and advanced dengue virus infections and determines virus particle infectivity. PLOS Pathogens 14(8): e1007261 (2018)
Alyssa Torres, J. Jordan Steel, Claire W. Varian-Ramos. The prevalence of West Nile Virus antibodies in blood samples from song birds collected from the Fountain Creek region of Colorado. El Rio Journal. (2018)
Juan L. Rodriguez, Erika Krow, J. Jordan Steel. Sindbis virus alters oxidative conditions and glucose uptake during active infection. El Rio Journal. (2018)
J. Jordan Steel. Microbial Murders Crime Scene Investigation: An Active Team-Based Learning Project that Enhances Student Enthusiasm and Comprehension of Clinical Microbial Pathogens. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education (JMBE). Vol 18. Number 2 (2017)
Jessica L Costlow, Erika S Krow, J. Jordan Steel. Imatinib Mesylate as an Effective Anti-viral Treatment for Alphavirus Infections. Fine Focus Vol 3(2) ISSN: 2381-0637 (2017)
J. Jordan Steel. Microbial Murders: A Crime Scene Investigation Project that Enhances Student Enthusiasm and Comprehension of Clinical Microbial Pathogens. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education (JMBE). Vol 16/Poster Abstracts from ASMCUE 2016 (2016)
J. Jordan Steel, Brian J Geiss, A Novel System for Visualizing Alphavirus Assembly. Journal of virological methods. (2015)
N. L. Sweeney, A. M. Hanson, S. Mukherjee, J. Ndjomou, B. J. Geiss, J. J. Steel, K. J. Frankowski, F. J. Schoenen, D. N. Frick Benzothiazole and pyrrolone flavivirus inhibitors targeting the viral helicase. ACS Infectious Diseases. (2015)
K. M. Bullard, R. C. Gullberg, E. Soltani, J. J. Steel, B. J. Geiss, S. Keenan Murine Efficacy and Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of the Flaviviral NS5 Capping Enzyme 2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one Inhibitor BG-223. PLoS ONE. (2015)
Presentations
J. Jordan Steel. Analysis of the Metabolic Pathways affected during Cannabinoid Receptor Activation and Its Impact on Alphavirus Replication. Metabolism of Infectious Disease Symposium. IDRC Conference. Fort Collins, Colo. (June 2018)
Juan Rodriguez, J. Jordan Steel. Alterations to mitochondrial metabolic pathways during cannabinoid activation of CB1 receptors within human hepatocytes. Tri-regional ASM Conference. Durango, Colo. (April 2018)
Alyssa Torres, J. Jordan Steel. Prevalence of West Nile Virus Antibodies and Blood Mercury levels in song birds collected from the Colorado Fountain Creek Region. Tri-regional ASM Conference. Durango, Colo. * Won 2nd place in Oral Presentation competition (April 2018)
J. Jordan Steel. Turning the classroom into a crime scene: an Evidence-based Discussion on how active team-based learning enhances student enthusiasm and comprehension of microbial pathogens. National Association of Biology Teachers Conference Award Speech. St. Louis, Mo. (Nov. 2017)
J. Jordan Steel. Viral Manipulation of Host Cell: Oxidative Stress, Metabolism, and Cannabis. CSU Pueblo Honors Program Invited Lecture. Pueblo, Colo. (Sept. 2017)
Stephanie Mills, Nunya Chotiwan, Rebekah C. Gullberg, J. Jordan Steel, Rushika Perera. Acyl-Coa Thioesterases: Restriction Factors of Dengue Virus. Rocky Mountain Virology Association Meeting. CSU Mountain Campus. Pingree Park, Colo. (Sept. 2017)
Rebekah C. Gullberg, J. Jordan Steel, V. Pujari, Sandra Quackenbush, Joel Rovnak, Dean Crick, Rushika Perera. Intracellular Lipid Content Impacts Dengue Virus 2 Particle Infectivity. Rocky Mountain Virology Association Meeting. CSU Mountain Campus. Pingree Park, Colo. (Sept. 2017)
J. Jordan Steel. Comparing Apples and Oranges: an in-class activity to help students appreciate the diversity of bacteria and the gram stain. American Society for Microbiology Conference for Undergraduate Education. Denver, Colo. (July 2017)
J. Jordan Steel. Investigating the Role of Endocannabinoid-induced Metabolic Changes on Viral Infection. Institute of Cannabis Research 2017 Conference. Pueblo, Colo. (April 2017)
J. Jordan Steel. Moderator for Biomedical Speaker Session V. Institute of Cannabis Research 2017 Conference. Pueblo, Colo. (April 2017)
Professional Affiliations
American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) (2017-Current)
National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) (2016-Current)
Generator School Network (Service-Learning) (2015-Current)
ASM Science Teaching Fellow Group (2012-Current)
American Society for Microbiology (ASM) (2011-Current)
Rocky Mountain Virology Association (2011-Current)
American Society of Virology (ASV) (2010-Current)