Jessica McCoy

Jessica McCoy serves as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the College of Charleston, teaching core biology courses including BIOL 102, BIOL 111, BIOL 305/305L, BIOL 312/312L, and BIOL 423/423L from her office in the Rita Hollings Science Center (58 Coming Street, Office 216). She is an active HHMI SEA PHAGES faculty member, contributing to this national undergraduate research initiative in phage genomics.

Dr. McCoy earned her Ph.D. from the Medical University of South Carolina and completed both her M.S. and B.S. at Winthrop University, establishing a foundation in biological sciences with clinical and environmental applications.

Her research centers on reproductive biology using the American alligator as a model organism to investigate environmental sex determination and endocrine disruption. Key interests include epigenetic mechanisms like DNA methylation, impacts of pollutants (e.g., perfluorinated alkyl acids, nitrate) on embryonic development, and temperature-dependent gene expression. This work bridges wildlife conservation with implications for human reproductive health, particularly through comparative studies of ovarian physiology and hormonal regulation.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2014-2022) reveals a cohesive research trajectory focused on environmental impacts on alligator reproduction. Dominant themes include DNA methylation patterns in sex determination, endocrine disruption by anthropogenic chemicals, and thermal regulation of developmental pathways. Her methodology integrates genomic, epigenetic, and physiological approaches, positioning her work at the intersection of comparative biology, environmental toxicology, and reproductive medicine.

Dr. McCoy's scientific awards were not specified in the provided text.

As an HHMI SEA PHAGES faculty member, she participates in a Howard Hughes Medical Institute-funded program supporting undergraduate research in bacteriophage genomics. While the text does not detail specific graduate student advisees or additional grants, her course listings and research focus indicate active mentorship in laboratory-based biology education and research.

Her work within the HHMI SEA PHAGES network involves collaborative teams of undergraduate researchers conducting genomic analyses. Though specific lab infrastructure isn't detailed, her research on alligator reproductive biology likely utilizes field and laboratory facilities at the College of Charleston, potentially in partnership with conservation organizations studying crocodilian species.