Jenna Jewell

Jenna Jewell is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Her research focuses on nutrient sensing mechanisms controlling cell growth and metabolism, particularly through mTORC1 signaling. She is affiliated with the Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine and the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Education: B.S. Chemistry and B.A. Political Science (Fort Lewis College); PhD in Molecular Biology (Indiana University, 2010). Postdoctoral training at UC San Diego with Dr. Kun-Liang Guan.

Research Interests: Investigates how cells sense nutrients (e.g., amino acids) to regulate metabolic pathways, with implications for diabetes, cancer, and metabolic diseases. Key areas include SNARE protein regulation in insulin secretion and mTORC1's role in nutrient-dependent growth control.

Notable Awards: CPRIT Recruitment Award (2015), CPRIT High Impact Award, 2017 Distinguished Researcher Award, FASEB Junior Investigator Award.

Grants: CPRIT-funded projects on mTORC1 recruitment mechanisms. Active collaborations include work on lysosomal function and cardioprotection through Rag GTPases.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Jewell Lab, which explores nutrient signaling pathways and their dysregulation in disease contexts. Current projects investigate amino acid sensing mechanisms and therapeutic targets for metabolic disorders.