Sheilachu P. Gomez
 

Assistant Director

Florida Center for Renewable Chemicals and Fuels (FCRC)

Assistant In Microbiology and Cell Science

University of Florida/ IFAS 

Bldg. 981 Museum Road, PO BOX 110700

Gainesville, FL 32611-0700

Tel/Fax: (352) 392-0237; e-mail: spgomez@ufl.edu

http://fcrc.ifas.ufl;.edu
 
Professional Interests

Acquisition and administration of research grants, graduate education in microbiology and cell science, and metabolic engineering of bacteria to produce chemicals and fuels from biomass. Translational research on the treatment of refractory hematologic and solid cancers.  Molecular genetic transformations in insects and plants.
 
Education Work Experience Honors & Awards Memberships Civic and Social Interests Publications

 

 

Education
Post-Doc 2000 - 2001   

University of Florida and Malcolm Randall Veterans Affairs Medical Center Research Service 

  Hematology and Oncology   
Post-Doc 1988 - 1996 U.S. Dept of Agriculture, CMAVE   Insect Molecular Genetics
Ph.D.  1988 University of Florida  Horticulture, Vegetable Breeding
M.S. 1978 University of the Philippines  Agronomy, Quantitative Genetics
B.S 1971 University of the Philippines  Agriculture, Statistics

 

Work Experience
Grants Coordinator 2004 - present Microbiology and Cell Science Department, UF-IFAS, Gainesville, FL
Graduate Program Assistant 2004 - present Microbiology and Cell Science Department, UF_IFAS, Gainesville, Florida
Assistant Director 2001 – present

Florida Center for Renewable Chemicals and Fuels, University of
    Florida/IFAS, Gainesville, Florida
Assistant In 2001 – present Microbiology and Cell Science Department, University of
    Florida/IFAS, Gainesville, Florida
Post-Doc Research Associate 2000 - 2001

Division of Hematology and Oncology, College of Medicine,

    University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida

Department of Hematology and Oncology, Veterans Affairs
    Medical Center Research Service, Gainesville, Florida

* Translational research on the treatment of refractory hematologic

 and solid tumors with the use of sequential chemotherapy.
Biological Scientist 1996 - 2000

Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of

      Florida/IFAS Gainesville, Florida

* Analysis of an entomopox virus genome found in

  Diachasmimorpha longicaudata, a parasite of the fruit fly

  Anastrepha suspensa.
Post-Doc Res. Associate Geneticist  1988 -1996 Division of Molecular Insect Genetics, USDA/ARS, Center for
     Medical Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville,
     Florida        
* Development of transposon-based vectors for fruit fly
  transformations.
Res. Assoc. Plant Breeder 1978 -1982 Institute of Plant Breeding, University of the Philippines, College,
      Laguna, Philippines
*Development of disease resistant and heat tolerant vegetable crops.
Lecturer, Genetics & Plant
    Breeding		 1978 -1982 University of the Philippines Botany and Agronomy Departments,
      College, Laguna, Philippines
Graduate Research Assistant 1973 -1979 University of the Philippines Department of Agronomy, College,
       Laguna, Philippines
* Development of bacterial wilt resistant and heat tolerant tomato.
Instructor in Statistics 1970 -1972 University of the Philippines Statistics Department, College, Laguna,
      Philippines

Research Assistant    

1971

International Rice Research Institute Statistics Division, Los
      Banos, Laguna, Philippines

 

Laboratory Experience
Management:
            Coordinated and monitored research assistants, students, and staff; budgeted and procured supplies and
               equipment; maintained and administered a safe and harmonious working environment in the lab; and wrote
               research results and annual reports.
Technical:   

Agronomy of horticultural plants and husbandry of fruit flies (Anastrepha suspensa).

Molecular and cellular bio-techniques in bacteria, virus, plants, insects and human cancer cell
   lines, including cell and tissue culture, cell proliferation/cytotoxicity assays, extraction, analyses and
   manipulations of proteins, and deoxy- and ribo-nucleotides, and microinjection of insect
   embryos for genetic transformations. Operation of QPIX2 colony picker robot.
Comfortable knowledge of DNA and protein analyses softwares used in oligonucleotide systhesis
   (Oligo), sequencing (Sequencher), quantification of protein and DNA bands (Quantity One),
   phylogeny (Blast). Knowledge of commonly used statistical analysis tools, including the software
   Microcal Origin, and PC and MAC commonly used softwares.

                                                                                        

Honors and/or Awards
President's Achievement Award, Society of Government Meeting Planners Central Florida Chapter, 2007
Fellow, American Association for Cancer Research,  Pathobiology of Cancer, 2001
Invited Speaker, Philippine-American Academy of Scientists and Engineers, 1999
Award of Appreciation, USDA/ARS Employee Association of Gainesville, Florida, 1994
U.S. Department of Agriculture/ARS Merit Award, 1993
Award of Appreciation, Volunteers for International Student Association, University of Florida, 1985
Presidential Recognition of Outstanding Students, University of Florida, 1985
Scholar, Philippine Government Ministry of Agriculture, 1982-1985
Secretary, Crop Science Society of the Philippines, 1982

                                            

Memberships
Member, Society of Government Meeting Planners, 2004-present
Member, Agricultural Women’s Club, 2002- present
Member, Association for Academic Women. 2002- present
Member, American Association for Cancer Research, 2001-2002
Board Member, Phil-Am Association of Gainesville and Surrounding Areas, 1996-1997
President, Philippine Cultural Association, Gainesville, FL, 1995
President, Filipino Student Association, University of Florida, 1983-1985
President, Sigma Beta Sorority, University of the Philippines, 1969

 

Civic and Social Interests

Appreciation of and Understanding the Filipino Culture in the American context: Teaching Pilipino.

Core Member, Friends of Los Banos (Philippines) Children, USA, 2001- present
Invited Speaker, How Americanized Are We? Filipino Student Association, University of Florida, 2006
Invited Speaker on Filipino Culture, Filipino Student Association, Florida State University,  2002
Promotion of Filipino Arts and Crafts
Member, Gainesville Orchid Society, 2004-2006

 

                                                                           

Publications
Refereed Publications:
14. Mainwaring MG, LM Rimza, SF Chen, SP GOMEZ, FW Weeks, V Reddy, J Lynch, WS May, S Kahn, J Moreb, H Leather, R Braylan, TC Rowe, KJ Feinewicz, and JR Wingard. 2002. Treatment of  refractory acute leukemia with timed sequential chemotherapy using topotecan followed by  etoposide + mitoxantrone (T-EM) and correlation with topoisomerase II levels. Leukemia Lymphoma. 43(5): 989-99

13. Chen, S., SP GOMEZ, D McCarley, and  MG Mainwaring. 2002. Topotecan-induced topoisomerase II- alpha expression increases the sensitivity of the CML cell line K562 to subsequent etoposide plus mitoxantrone treatment. Cancer Chemotheraphy and Pharmacology. 49(5): 347-55.

12. Shi, X., S.P. GOMEZ AND P.O. Lawrence. 1999. A 24 kDa parasitism-specific protein from the   Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa: cDNA and deduced amino acid sequence. Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 29(9): 749-55.

 11. GOMEZ, S.P. and A.M. Handler. 1997. A Drosophila melanogaster hobo-white+ Vector mediates low frequency gene transfer in D. virilis with full interspecific white+ complementation. Insect Molecular Biology 6(2):165-171.

 10. Handler, A.M. and S.P. GOMEZ. 1997. A new hobo, Ac, Tam3 transposable element, hopper, from Bactrocera dorsalis is distantly related to hobo and Ac. Gene 185: 133-135.

  9. Handler, A.M and S.P. GOMEZ. 1997. P-element excision in Drosophila is stimulated by gamma-irradiation in transient embryonic assays. Genet Res. 70(1):75-8.

   8. Handler, A.M. and S.P. GOMEZ. 1996. Analysis of hobo transposable element for gene-vector development. In Part V. Genetics and Biochemistry, Fruit Fly Pests – A world assessment of their biology and managment. Eds. Bruce A. McPherson and Gary J. Steck. St Lucie Press, Delray Beach, Florida pp 221-230.

  7. Handler, A.M. and S.P. GOMEZ. 1996. The hobo transposable element excises and has related elements in tephritid species. Genetics. 143:1339-1347.

    6. Handler, A.M. and S.P. GOMEZ. 1995. The hobo transposable element has transposase-dependent and -independent excision activity in drosophilid species. Mol. Gen. Genet. 247:399-408.

   5. Handler, A.M., GOMEZ, S.P., and O’Brochta, D.A. 1993. A functional analysis of the P-element gene transfer vector in insects. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 22:373-384.

  4. Handler, A.M., GOMEZ, S.P., and O’Brochta, D.A. 1993. Negative regulation of P-element excision by the somatic product and terminal sequences of the P in Drosophila melanogaster. Mol. Gen. Genet. 237:145-151.

  3. O’Brochta, D.A. GOMEZ, S.P. and Handler, A.M. 1991. P-element excision in Drosophila melanogaster and related drosophilids. Mol. Gen. Genet. 225:387-394.

   2. GOMEZ, S.P. 1988. Inheritance of common blight resistance caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli (Smith) dye in Phaseolus vulgaris L. bean line XR 235-1-1. Ph.D. Dissertation. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

  1. GOMEZ, S.P. 1981. Inheritance of resistance to bacterial wilt caused by Pseudomonas solanacearum E.F.Smith, in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Proceedings of the Crop Science Society of the Philippines, Cebu, Philippines.
Contributed Presentations:

       4.   Chen, Sifeng, Sheilachu Paje Gomez, Mark G. Mainwaring. 2001. Protein-DNA double comet assay for
                    protein-mediated DNA damage. Abstracts on Experimental/Molecular Therapeutics. Proc. of Am Assoc for
                    Cancer Research. 42: 450.

  3.   Barney Dillard, Sheilachu P. Gomez, Pauline O.  Lawrence, Xianzong Shi and Ernesto Almira. 1999. A homolog of vaccinia virus ‘rifampicin resistance’ protein in an entompoxvirus from a parasitic wasp. Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Atlanta, GA.

  2.   Pauline O. Lawrence, Sheilachu P. Gomez and Xianzong Shi. 1999. An entomopoxvirus from a parasitic wasp induces a 24KD protein in Cyclorrhaphous dipterans. Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Atlanta, GA.

  1.    Xianzong Shi, Sheilachu P. Gomez, Pauline O. Lawrence. 1998. The cDNA sequence and its deduced amino acids of PSP24: A parasitism-specific protein from the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa. Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Las Vegas, NV.

 

Deposited DNA sequences in GenBank:
 

  1.    Dillard, B. E., Gomez, S.P., Lawrence, P.O., Shi, X., Almira, E.C. 2000. Diachasmiporpha longicaudata entomopoxvirus RI-1 protein gene, complete cds,. GenBank Accession Number AF159588.

  2.     Shi, X., Gomez, S.P., Lawrence, P.O. 1999. Anastrepha suspensa  parasitism-specific protein PSP10(psg4) mRNA, complet cds. GenBank Accession Number AF165876.

  3.     Shi, X., Gomez, S.P., Lawrence, P.O. 1999. Anastrepha suspensa parasitism specific protein   PSP24 (psg8) mRNA, complete cds. GenBank Accession Number AF135876

 

Other Publications

   1.   Website: Sheilachu P. Gomez, Jeremy Purvis, Lonnie O. Ingram. 2001. Florida Center for  
   Renewable Chemicals and Fuels (FCRC): http://fcrc.ifas.ufl.edu. University of Florida
   Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Microbiology and Cell Science Department.
 

   2.   Brochure: Sheilachu P. Gomez and Lonnie O. Ingram. 2002-present. Florida Center for
   Renewable Chemicals and Fuels (FCRC).  University of Florida Institute of Food and
   Agricultural Sciences, Microbiology and Cell Science Department.
 

   3.   MyUFL Portal: Sheilachu P. Gomez. 2003. Editor for Florida Center for Renewable Chemicals and Fuels Pagelets. University of Florida