Project University
Resume:
Resume
Celina Y. Mojica, Ph.D.
*******@***.***
EDUCATION
University of California, Irvine, Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences (2013)
Advisor: Dr. Frances M. Leslie
University of California, Davis, B.S., Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior
(2006)
WORK EXPERIENCE
Postdoctoral Scholar, Dept. of Pharmacology at the University of California,
Irvine (April 2013- present)
Post-doctoral advisor: Dr. Frances M. Leslie, Ph.D.
Project: Characterizing a new preclinical model of tobacco addiction using
cigarette smoke extract in the rat self-administration model. In addition, I am also
testing the effectiveness of a novel pharmacological tobacco cessation aid in our
preclinical model of tobacco addiction.
Non-research responsibilities:
• Maintain animal research protocol
• Manage graduate student
• Manage progress of grant and subcontract research projects
Graduate Student Researcher, Dept. of Anatomy and Neurobiology at the
University of California, Irvine (September 2007- March 2013)
Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Frances M. Leslie, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Nicotine’s effect on the developing adolescent limbic system
Lab Technician, Post-Baccalaureate, Post-Baccalaureate Research Education
Program at the University of California, Irvine (July 2005- June 2006)
Advisor: Dr. Ann Calof, Ph.D.
Project: Transcriptional regulation of neurogenesis in mouse olfactory
epithelium.
Junior Specialist, University of California, Davis (March 2006- June 2006)
Undergraduate Advisor: Dr. Peggy Farnham, Ph.D.
Project: Examining epigenetic regulation of E2F binding to its consensus sites.
Internship, Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate, University of
California, Irvine (Summer 2005)
Advisor: Dr. James McGaugh, Ph.D.
Project: The effects of MAPK/ERK inhibitor on memory retrieval during a spatial
memory task.
Laboratory Assistant II University of California, Davis (July 2005- March 2006)
Undergraduate Advisor: Dr. Peggy Farnham, Ph.D.
Project: I was involved in several projects aimed at understanding the role of
transcription factors in cancer.
FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS
Faculty Mentor Program, University of California, Irvine (July 2008- June 2009)
Alliance for Graduate Education for the Professoriate (AGEP) Travel Award, UCI,
2008
GK-12 Program, NSF/Minority Science program at UCI (July 2009- June 2010)
School of Medicine Travel Award, UCI, 2009, 2010, 2011
Dean’s Dissertation Year Award, UCI, Fall 2012
PUBLICATIONS
Mojica CY, Belluzzi JD, Leslie FM (2013). Age-dependent alterations in reward-
seeking behavior after brief nicotine exposure. Psychopharmacology. In press.
Leslie FM, Mojica CY, Reynaga DS (2013). Nicotinic receptors in addiction
pathways. Molecular Pharmacology. 83(4):753-8.
PUBLISHED ABSTRACTS AND PRESENTATIONS
Mojica CY, Belluzzi JD, Leslie FM. Effects of nicotine pretreatment on cocaine-
seeking behavior in adolescent and adult rats. Society for Neuroscience meeting
in Chicago, IL, 2009.
Mojica CY, Belluzzi JD, Leslie FM. Effects of nicotine pretreatment on cocaine-
seeking behavior. American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental
Therapeutics meeting in Anaheim, CA, 2010.
Mojica CY, Belluzzi JD, Leslie FM. Comparison of cocaine and food-seeking
behaviors in adolescent and adult rats. Society for the Advancement of Chicanos
and Native Americans in Science meeting in San Diego, CA, 2010.
Mojica CY, Belluzzi JD, Leslie FM. Effects of nicotine pretreatment on cocaine-
seeking behavior in adolescent and adult rats. Society for Neuroscience meeting
in San Diego, CA, 2010.
Mojica CY, Dao JD, Loughlin SE, Leslie FM. Effects of nicotine pretreatment
during adolescence on quinpirole-mediated changes in coordinated c-fos mRNA
expression. Society for Neuroscience meeting in Washington D.C., 2011.
MEMBERSHIPS IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
Society for Neuroscience
American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science
LEADERSHIP
(2008- 2011) Diverse Educational Community and Doctoral Experience
(DECADE) Graduate Student Planning Committee
• Worked with graduate students in a variety of disciplines to plan
workshops for career, personal and professional development, and
networking functions for graduate students at UCI
(2007- present) Management and mentorship of undergraduate research
students: Carlos Aguirre, Alysia Ahmed, Andrew Dam, Justin Ko, Emily Nolasco,
Derek Pham, Gabrielle Rawles, Nancy Santiago, Christopher Tam, David Yang
SKILLS
Extensive experience and proficient using Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power
Point
Extensive experience using IBM SPSS statistical software
Experience using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
Experience writing research grants, research grant budgets, research grant
progress reports, and scientific research articles
Extensive experience preparing and giving research presentations
Management of Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) animal
use protocol
• Maintaining and updating of protocol
• Ensuring lab compliance with institutional rules and regulations set by
IACUC
References provided upon request.
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