CRS Scientist Spotlight on Jordy Martinez

Jordy Martinez is a PhD candidate in Dr. Sadie Wignall's lab. His research focuses on alternative mechanisms that oocytes have adapted to build the meiotic spindle and carry out faithful chromosome segregation.

Thesis Mentor: Sadie Wignall, PhD

Thesis Title: "Put a Ring On It: Identifying alternative mechanisms for microtubule organization in acentrosomal spindles"

What brought you to join the CRS community and what is your current position? 

I am a 4th-year PhD student in Dr. Sadie Wignall’s lab in the Molecular Biosciences department. We are one of the few labs that are part of the reproductive sciences community on the Evanston campus. In undergrad, I was introduced to research that focused on embryonic development and was fascinated that we could use different animals to understand such complex biological processes. When I was applying to grad school, I wanted to be in a lab that focused on this topic, but to my surprise I was fascinated by the cell division in oocytes - such a fundamental process that lacks biological explanation. This is when I started to learn more about reproductive sciences and became part of the CRS community.  

Could you describe your research? 

Sex cells must reduce their genetic content in half before the fusion of the maternal and paternal genomes (fertilization). Failure to accomplish this task can lead to an incorrect number of chromosomes in these cells, potentially resulting in miscarriage or infertility. In most cells, cell division is mediated by large protein structures known as centrosomes that are critical for assembling the microtubule-based spindle. However, oocytes (female reproductive cells) lack centrosomes, which is a phenomenon conserved across many species. I am interested in uncovering the alternative mechanisms that oocytes have adapted to build the meiotic spindle and carry out faithful chromosome segregation. 

What aspect of CRS do you find most valuable?  

I appreciate the feedback from the CRS community during the RRUs. I rarely have the opportunity to present to an audience that does not specialize in my field. I’ve found that CRS members are curious about my science through their active participation. This is a great opportunity to tailor my presentation to a broader audience. 

What has been the most valuable aspect to your training as a reproductive scientist? 

Our work as reproductive scientists has a broad impact on people around the world, as is true of scientific research in general. While much remains to be discovered about the complex mysteries of reproductive science, I am excited to contribute even a small piece to the puzzle. 

What is one piece of advice you would give to young scientists starting in their journey in science? 

Make sure to get at least 8 hours of sleep every day. 

What do you think will be the next big contribution in the reproductive biology field?  

As someone who enjoys imaging, I’m excited about new tools and technologies that will improve the resolution of imaging. Im a firm believer that we can learn a lot from images and movies to supplement our understanding of biological processes. We can uncover more about molecular networks using advanced tools. It also doesn’t hurt to create more remarkable images. 

What hobbies do you have outside of the lab?   

In high school, I thought I would pursue a career in the arts—whether as an architect, running my own online art business, or working in digital design for an illustration company. I was a competitive artist growing up (something that I haven’t heard in a while) and would create art pieces for prize money that helped me pay for college. This eventually felt more like a job, and I quickly lost the inspiration to continue. Now that I’ve taken some time away from a canvas, I have started creating more pieces to bring me some peace. I’m currently trying to master pointillism, so if anyone has any tips, feel free to let me know. Aside from that, I like to workout and explore the city with my friends.