Melissa Fernandez-de Céspedes
Scientist - Naturalist - Sustainable Landscaper
Views are my own
Pronouns: She, her, hers
THE MISSION
Human and envrionmental health are intricately tied.
I'm on a mission to conserve Florida's natural resources, preserve native plants and their habitats, and protect at-risk wildlife.
A healthier natural Florida will support a healthier human population.
Education & Certifications
Never stop learning
Education:
New York University (2014)
PhD in Pathology
Florida International University (2010)
MSc in Environmental Chemistry
Florida International University (2007)
BSc in Chemistry, magna cum laude
Florida International University (2007)
Cert. in Chinese Studies
Programs & Certifications:
University of Florida - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (2022 - 2023)
Florida Master Naturalist Program - Florida ecology, conservation, and preservation
Gardenary Consultant Certification Program (2022)
Certified Gardenary Coach - sustainable residential and commercial foodscaping
Shades of Green Permaculture (2021 - 2022)
The Regenerative Backyard Blueprint program - regenerative landscaping and permaculture
Continuing Education:
University of Florida - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (2022 - 2023)
Florida Master Naturalist Program - Florida ecology, conservation, and preservation
Business of Science (by SciPhD) - NCI CCR OTE, MD (2019)
Flow Cytometry Training Course - NIH, MD (2017)
Experimental Design Course - NCI CCR OTE, MD (2017)
IMAGE Grant Writing Workshop - ASBMB, D.C. (2016)
Art of Science Communication Workshop - ASBMB, virtual (2016 – 2017)
K Grant Working Group Class - NCI CCR OTE, MD (2016)
BioTech53 - Super Resolution Microscopy: Principles and Methods Workshop - FAES, MD (2016)
Scientists Teaching Science - NIH OITE, MD (2015 – 2016)
Fundamentals of Teaching - NYU, NY (2013)
Grant Writing for Scientists - NYU, NY (2009 – 2013)
Program Management & Leadership
Keeping things organized
Founder
2017 - 2018
In light of the devastation Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria have caused on Puerto Rico, I put together a team of volunteers to host donation drop off points and organized a donation drive in Maryland. Together, this team collected donations from National Cancer Institute locations at Bethesda, Fort Detrick, Shady Grove, and the ATRF. We also recruited two restaurants in downtown Frederick, MD to host donation drop off boxes: JoJo's Restaurant and Tap House & Magoo's Pub and Eatery.
Donations were handed off to the Unidos Por Puerto Rico DMV organization in Chantilly, VA.
Managing Editor
2017 - 2018
Accomplishments & Activities
- Worked in collaboration with the Editor-in-Chief and CCR staff to develop and implement publishing strategies.
- Identified, designed, and implemented a new editorial initiative – the Colloquium Edition – to increase authorship, personalize outreach to key communities, and promote the newsletter.
- Identified, built relationships with, and recruited new authors across the NCI community to commission high quality content including conference reviews, historical perspectives in science, and work-life balance pieces.
- Coordinated with multiple groups to ensure efficiency, timeliness, and overall high quality of the publications.
- Assisted publication staff with developing and implementing the timely publication of the seasonal newsletter.
Portfolio
Summer 2018 Newsletter - Managing Editor/Contributing Writer
Spring 2018 Newsletter - Photographer/Managing Editor/Contributing Writer
Spring/Summer 2017 Newsletter - Contributing Writer
Fall/Winter 2017 Newsletter - Managing Editor/Contributing Writer/Advertisement Designer
Co-Chair and Awards Organizer
2016 - 2018
The Annual CCR-FYI Colloquium, implemented in 2001, has been one of the most ambitious programs implemented by the CCR-FYI committee and has since become a long-standing component in the training program for more than 800 current young intramural scientists.
This event is fully supported by the CCR leadership, and during my first year as Co-Chair in 2017, almost 300 fellows attended the Colloquium. The goals for the CCR-FYI Annual Colloquium are to provide an opportunity for research & clinical fellows to present their work to their peers, to allow young scientists a chance to explore potential career paths, and to provide a forum to learn about the exciting, groundbreaking research occurring at the NCI and at other institutions.
As Co-chair of the Colloquium planning committee, I form a team composed of fellows from across the NCI to plan different aspects of the colloquium and manage the different subcommittee groups. I also invite the NCI and CCR directors to give remarks, recruit leaders in the field as keynote speakers, and manage the Outstanding Postdoctoral Fellow, Postgraduate Fellow, and Travel Awards judging.
Working together with my co-chair, we have streamlined the Standard Operating Procedures for colloquium planning and trained an incoming team to take over and lead the organization of the colloquium from 2019 and beyond.
Accomplishments & Activities
- Led a cross-functional team in the planning, organization, and execution of the annual CCR Fellows’ Colloquium and subsequent Annual Retreat.
- Coordinated with multiple departments and facilities to ensure the efficient execution of the two-day scientific conference and the one-day retreat.
- Mentored members in the planning of a diverse and inclusive scientific conference.
Portfolio
Colloquium Subcommittee SOP (2018) - co-editor
Colloquium Subcommittee SOP (2017) - co-editor
2018 Colloquium Agenda - Planning Co-chair, Awards Subcommittee Chair
2017 Colloquium Agenda - Planning Co-chair, Awards Subcommittee Chair
2018 Annual CCR-FYI Retreat Agenda - Subcommittee Chair2017 Annual CCR-FYI Retreat Agenda - Co-planner
Poster for the 2018 Scientific Investigators Retreat - Author
Frederick Chair of the Steering Committee
2016 - 2018
Accomplishments & Activities
- Assisted the CCR Office of Training and Education (OTE) with implementing training programs and services to support the overall training goals of the institute.
- Identified new ways to reach and recruit fellows to grow membership and attendance.
- Prepared data reports under the guidance of CCR OTE staff for internal committee review and external public reporting of activities.
- Led a large cross-functional team that served to meet the daily training needs of the CCR fellows’ community.
- Enhanced the reputation of the CCR-FYI within the CCR community to ensure its growth and success.
Portfolio
CCR-FYI Bylaws (2018 V1) - Managing Editor
Grantsmanship
Keeping the lights on
K99 AI147815 (Fernandez, PI)
Major goals: 1. Define the role of HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) trafficking in viral transmission in physiologically relevant cell types and virus strains. 2. Uncover the mechanism of HIV-1 Gag and Env interactions during virus assembly.
2019 - 2023
Intramural AIDS Research Fellowship (IARF) (Fernandez, PI)
Major goal: Define the requirement for the host trafficking proteins, FIP1C and Rab14, in HIV-1 Env cytoplasmic tail mediated trafficking during viral assembly.
2018 - initial funding
2019 - renewed
Sallie Rosen Kaplan (SRK) Fellowship (Fernandez, PI)
Major goal: Define the requirement for host trafficking protein, FIP1C, and conserved tyrosine motifs in the gp41 cytoplasmic tail in HIV-1 Env trafficking to the plasma membrane.
2016
F31 AI089030 (Fernandez, PI)
Major goal: Determine the role of TLR7 and TLR9 in HIV-induced activation of indolamine 2,3-dioxygenase and its effect on the generation of regulatory T-cells.
2010 - 2014
Outreach
Giving back to the community
Education Outreach Manager
2017
The Chemical Society of Washington (CSW) is the local ACS Section for the Washington, DC area and serves approximately 4,000 members.
As one of this year's elected managers, I assist with education outreach efforts by assisting the Community Activities Committee, the Education Committee, and Project SEED.
Volunteer Veterinary Assistant & Surgical Assistant
2012 - 2013
For more than 114 years, Bideawee has been the leading pet welfare organization serving metropolitan New York and Long Island. Through a vast array of services Bideawee cultivates and supports the life-long relationships between pets and the people who love them.
As a volunteer, I assisted with wellness care, medical services, soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries, and oral health assessment & treatment.
Volunteer Animal Handler
2012
Adopt NY was a league of rescue groups working to make New York No Kill. By holding large-scale adoption events in and around NYC, they've been able to introduce many New Yorkers to their newest furry family members.
As a volunteer animal handler, I facilitated with getting the adoptable dogs more visibility by walking them and ensuring they were calm and felt safe during an excitable event. Potential adopters were directed to where they could fill out adoption forms.
Volunteer Instructor
2010
Citizen Schools is an American nonprofit organization that partners with middle schools across the United States to expand the learning day for children in low-income communities.
The course I designed focused on educating seventh graders through a basic forensic science sequence aimed at solving a crime to catch a criminal.
During the course of the semester, I developed, supervised, and conducted lessons and activities as a Volunteer Instructor for an eleven week apprenticeship in East Harlem.Scientific Publications
Click on the manuscript title to access the PDF on PubMed.
Fernandez-de Céspedes MV, Hoffman HK, Carter H, Simons LM, Naing L, Ablan SD, Hultquist JF, van Engelenburg SB, Freed EO. 2022. J. Virol. PMID: 36354340
Fernandez MV, Hoffman HK, Pezeshkian N, Tedbury PR, van Engelenburg SB, Freed EO. 2020. J. Virol. PMID: 32938764
Fernandez MV, Delviks-Frankenberry KA, Scheiblin DA, Happel C, Pathak V, Freed E.O. 2019. J. Virol. PMID: 31554688
Hoffman HK, Fernandez MV, Groves NS, Freed EO, van Engelenburg SB. 2019. J. Biol. Chem. PMID: 31519756
Fernandez MV, Freed EO. 2018. Viruses. PMID: 30405009
Buttler CA, Pezeshkia N, Fernandez MV, Aaron J, Norman S, Freed EO, van Engelenburg SB. 2018. Nat. Comm. PMID: 29748537
Fernandez MV, Freed EO. 2017. Cell Chem. Bio. PMID: 28525770
Fernandez MV, Miller E, Krammer F, Gopal R, Greenbaum BD, Bhardwaj N. 2016. Leukoc. Biol. PMID: 26574023
Fernandez MV, Gardinali PR. 2016. Sci. Total Environ. PMID: 26490533
Fernandez MV, Miller EA, Bhardwaj N. 2014. J. Vis. Exp. PMID: 24894187
Manches O, Fernandez MV, Plumas J, Chaperot L, Bhardwaj N. 2012. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. PMID: 22879398
Landrum JT, Chatfield DC, Mebel AM, Alvarez-Calderon F, Fernandez MV. 2010. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. PMID: 19850003
Dorsey M, et al. 2023. J Clin Immunol. PMID: 36840835
Elalfy ES, et al. 2022. Blood Adv. PMID: 36018224
Lun CM, et al. 2021. mBio. PMID: 33727347
Links to Profiles
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My Bibliography provides a centralized place where citations are easily accessed, exported as a file, and made public to share with others.
ORCID is a unique identifier for all who participate in research, scholarship and innovation. This service connects the individual to their contributions and affiliations, across disciplines, borders, and time.
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FAQ
Do you have a question?
What are you up to?
Miami, FL.
I recently moved back to Florida where I volunteer in my community youth outreach programs teaching gardening and natural sciences.
Environmental and human health are intricately tied. In 2021, I started Florida Good Life to provide my community with a deeper understanding of sustainable landscaping and options for foodscaping that avoid HOA push-back.
What are my credentials?
Graduate degrees in human pathology and environmental chemistry
I've had a life-long passion for environmental conservation and human health; the influence of one on the other is intricately woven: healthier environment + healthier food = healthier bodies. #eatmoreplants Towards this passion, I earned my masters degree in chemistry focused on environmental contamination and monitoring, and my doctorate degree in pathology with a focus on immunological responses to viral infections.
Certifications in foodscaping and permaculture
Since returning to Florida, I have studied sustainable land managment, permaculture, garden design, foodscaping, integrated pest control, customer/client communications, and Florida ecology. My gardening hobby has been a joy.
Where am I going?
Towards promoting more healthful communities
I’m seeking a Medical Writing or Technical Application Scientist role at top biotechnology companies and am the perfect fit for these roles because I have the following skills: scientific communications, stakeholder management, medical science liaison, medical affairs, client facing skills, and disease state expertise.
Do you want a copy of my scientific publications?
No problem!
All my publications are linked above to their PubMed page.
Tell me more about work-life balance... do you have any hobbies?
Of course!
Even obsessed scientists take time to enjoy their hobbies! My appreciation for chemistry began as a high schooler during photography class. Many of the images on this website were taken by me during my undergraduate years at FIU in collaboration with chemist, Dr. James Quirke.
There is also significant carry-over between lab skills and cooking/gardening. During my spare time on the weekend I am, gardening, cooking, or volunteering to teach sustainable gardening and foodscaping.
During my graduate career, I developed a love for aerial silks, lyra, yoga, and running. When not working, I can be found outside gardening or caring for my rescue turtles.
Contact Me
Do you have any further questions?
© 2016