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Jeffrey Copeland

POSITION: Professor of Biology

DEPARTMENTS:
School of Sciences, Engineering, Art and Nursing
Biology, Chemistry, & Environmental Science
Biomedicine

LOCATION: Main Campus, Harrisonburg | SSC 048

PHONE: (540) 432-4625

EMAIL: jeffrey.copeland@emu.edu

Dr. Jeffrey Copeland is a Professor of Biology and serves on the Pre-Professional Health Sciences at Eastern Mennonite University.  Between 2017 and 2019, he held a Visiting Scholar appointment in the lab of Dr. B. Jill Venton in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Virginia.  His research interests include probing the neurobiological importance of aging in Drosophila, the role of the E3 ligase RNF11 in dopamine release and Parkinson's, and the genetic basis for multidrug resistance in E. coli.   Dr. Copeland earned his Ph.D. in Biology from the California Institute of Technology and completed his post-doctoral training at the University of California, Los Angeles.  He currently teaches courses in Genetics, Cell Biology, Microbiology, and Immunology.  While not at work, Jeff spends his time at home with his wife and three daughters, biking, playing board games, thinking of ridiculous Lego chess sets, and gardening.

Education

PHD, California Institute of Technology (Biology)
BA, University of Virginia (Biology)

  • Publications

    Dumitrescu, E, Copeland, JM, Venton, BJ. Parkin Knockdown Modulates Dopamine Release in the Central Complex, but Not the Mushroom Body Heel, of Aging Drosophila. 2023, ACS Chem Neurosci, 198-208. doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00277

    Landis, JE, Sungu, K, Sipe, H, Copeland, JM. Electron transport chain RNAi in glutamate neurons extends life span, increases sleep, and decreases locomotor activity in Drosophila melanogaster. 2023. BioRxiv, doi.org/10.1101/2023.01.08.523160

    Privman, E, Donelson, N, Pyakurel, P, Wolin, D, Ostendor, L, Denno, M, Borman, R, Burke, C, Short-Miller, JC, Yoder, MR, Copeland, JM, Sanyal, S, Venton, BJ. RING finger protein (RNF11) modulates dopamine release in Drosophila. 2021. Neurosci, 452, 37-48. doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.10.021

    Wang, Y, Copeland, JM, Shin, M, Chang, Y, and Venton, BJ. CD73 or CD39 deletion reveals different mechanisms of formation for spontaneous and mechanically-stimulated adenosine release and sex specific compensations in ATP degradation. 2020. ACS Chem Neurosci, 11, 919-928.

    Shin, M, Copeland JM, Venton, BJ.  Real-time measurements of stimulated dopamine release in compartments of the adult Drosophila melanogaster mushroom body.  2020. Anal. Chem, 92, 14398-14407. doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.0c02305

    Keppley, LJW, Nafziger, AJ, Liu, Y, Hirsh, J, and Copeland JM. RNAi Targeting of the respiratory chain affects Drosophila life span depending on neuronal subtype. 2018. BIOS, 89, 35-44.

    Shin, M, Copeland JM, Venton, BJ. Drosophila as a model system for neurotransmitter studies. 2018. ACS Chem Neurosci, 9, 1872-1883.

    Cormier, DT, Berry, AB, Rhodes, MF, Copeland JM. What makes humans human?: a review of important genetic differences between chimpanzees and humans. 2017. JofSR, 2, 1-6.

    Reesor, MJ, King, IJ, Copeland JM. Development of a tetracycline resistant strain of E. coli sensitive to ultraviolet radiation. 2014. JofSR, 3, 63-68.

    Copeland JM, Cho J, Lo T Jr, Hur JH, Bahadorani S, Arabyan T, Rabie J, Soh J, Walker DW. Extension of Drosophila lifespan by RNAi of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. 2009. Curr Biol. 19, 1591-8.

    Ribaya JP, Ranmuthu M, Copeland J, Boyarskiy S, Blair AP, Hay B, Laski FA. The deubiquitinase emperor’s thumb is a regulator of apoptosis in Drosophila. 2009. Dev Biol. 329, 25-35.

    Copeland JM, Bosdet I, Freeman JD, Guo M, Gorski SM, Hay BA. echinus, required for interommatidial cell sorting and cell death in the Drosophila pupal retina, encodes a protein with homology to ubiquitin-specific proteases. 2007. BMC Dev Biol. 7, 82.

    Vernooy SY, Copeland J, Ghaboosi N, Griffin EE, Yoo SJ, Hay BA. Cell death regulation in Drosophila: conservation of mechanism and unique insights. 2000. J Cell Biol. 150, 69-76.

  • Scholarly Presentations and Abstracts
    • "Towards a Molecular Understanding of Aging: Modification of the Electron Transport Chain in Drosophila," Saint Michael's College, Winooski, VT, March 2020.
    • "Aging and the Nervous System: Genetic and electrochemical studies in Drosophila," Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY, April 2019.
    • “Aging genes and electrochemistry of the Drosophila brain,” Suter Science Seminar, Harrisonburg, VA, November 2018.
    • A Drosophila Mutant Resistant to Oxidative Stress, Virginia Academy of Science, Norfolk State University, May 2012.
    • “The Genetics Behind the Aging Process,” Suter Science Seminar, Harrisonburg, VA, January 2011.
  • Professional Conferences Attended
    • UVA Brain Symposium, University of Virginia, May 2019
    • Virginia Chapter of the American Society of Microbiology, EMU, April 2019
    • Health Professions Advisor Conference, West Virginia School of Osteopathic, March 2019
    • Virginia Health Professions Advisors Consortium, Washington and Lee, April, 2017
    • Health Professions Advisor Conference, West Virginia School of Osteopathic, March 2017
    • Virginia Academy of Science, University of Mary Washington, May 2016
    • Virginia Chapter of the American Society of Microbiology, Mary Baldwin College, April 2016
    • Virginia Health Professions Advisors Consortium, Virginia Tech Carillion School of Medicine, November, 2015
    • JMU Symposium, Teaching Gateway Courses Institute, James Madison University, August 2015.
    • Virginia Health Professions Advisors Consortium, University of Virginia, April, 2015
    • Virginia Academy of Science, Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA, May 2012
    • JMU May Symposium, Teaching Gateway Courses Institute, James Madison University, May 2011.
    • NSF-CCLI Annual Microarray Workshop, James Madison University, July, 2010.
  • Courses Taught
    • Molecular Genetics (BIOCH 438)
    • Molecular and Cellular Biology (BIOL 240)
    • Advanced Microbiology (BIOL 327)
    • Introduction to Microbiology (BIOL 205)
    • Advanced Cell Biology (BIOCH 398)
    • Immunology (BIOL 337)
    • Life Science Practicum (shadowing program for pre-health students) (BIOL 219)
  • EMU Service
    • Chair, Pre-Professional Health Sciences
    • Chair, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
    • Advisory Committee for Master’s Program in Biomedicine
    • Writing Committee
    • Institutional Review Board Chair, 2011 – 2015
    • Faculty Senate, 2012 – 2014
    • Research Advisor for Massanutten Regional Governor’s School for high school seniors
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