Jeff Sekelsky

Jeff Sekelsky is a Professor of Biology and Genetics at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. His research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of DNA repair and recombination, particularly in meiotic processes using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism. He directs the Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology and has made significant contributions to studies on Holliday junction resolution, crossover patterning, and the roles of helicases like BLM in genome stability.

Affiliations include the Department of Biology, Department of Genetics, and the Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology. His work integrates genetic, molecular, and biochemical approaches to dissect repair pathways and their implications in cancer and genetic disorders.

Research interests emphasize programmed DNA double-strand breaks in meiosis, crossover regulation in heterochromatin regions, and the interplay between repair enzymes (e.g., Mus312, Mei-9, Gen) in generating crossovers. He has pioneered studies on the centromere effect suppressing crossovers near centromeres and the roles of MCM complexes in promoting meiotic recombination.

Notable awards include the 2023 Faculty Award for Excellence in Graduate Student and Academic Program Support. His lab’s publications span over two decades, with recent work on Bloom helicase functions, Marcal1-dependent repair, and centromere-proximal crossover suppression. He has mentored numerous graduate students and postdocs, contributing to their academic and professional development through training programs.