Jena Chojnowski

 

Dr. Chojnowski’s mission is to mentor, teach, and advise scientists through research experience and experiential coursework in the biomedical sciences program at Winthrop University. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Zoology at the University of Florida (2002) and her PhD in Biology at the University of Florida (2010). Her postdoctoral research studies were at the University of Georgia (2011-2015) working on the role of Hox genes in the development of the thymus and the role of Pax6 in the eye disease aniridia, including stem cell biology.

In January 2023, she joined the Winthrop University Biology department team. Her research consists of the involvement of corneal stem cell biology in maintenance and corneal wound healing. No matter how well the internal components of your eye work if the cornea is damaged then you cannot see. She focuses on the relationship between Pax6 and its role in the corneal immune system in human corneal epithelial tissue and embryonic chickens. Human corneal epithelial cells are maintained and manipulated in culture. Developing chicken corneas are maintained in the lab. Her techniques to to understand the inner workings of the cornea are immunohistochemistry, cellular manipulation, microscopy, and identification of molecular and morphological changes to corneal cells.  In addition, Dr. Chojnowski teaches Human Anatomy (B307) and cell biology courses.