Josette El Zaklit

Josette El Zaklit is an Associate Professor at the University of Nevada, Reno specializing in the biophysical effects of nanosecond electric pulses on cellular systems. Her research primarily investigates calcium dynamics and membrane responses in adrenal chromaffin cells, bridging biomedical engineering and neurophysiology through experimental and computational approaches.

Her research program focuses on numerical cell modeling, nanobioelectricity, and electroporation mechanisms in excitable cells. Key investigations include how ultrashort pulses affect intracellular calcium release, membrane poration thresholds, and secretory processes, with significant contributions to understanding subcellular electric field interactions.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals consistent exploration of nanosecond pulse effects on chromaffin cells, combining fluorescence imaging, patch-clamp electrophysiology, and impedance spectroscopy with finite element modeling. Dominant themes include calcium signaling heterogeneity, differential poration of plasma versus intracellular membranes, and pulse parameter optimization for cellular stimulation.

Dr. El Zaklit's scientific contributions have been recognized through prestigious awards:

• Early Stage Investigator Award (3rd Place) at the Third World Congress on Electroporation (WCE 2019)
• Student Platform Presentation Award (2nd Place) at BioEM 2015
• T. J. Tarn Best Paper Award at IEEE ROBIO 2009

She actively mentors graduate students, currently recruiting PhD candidates with backgrounds in biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, or biological sciences for projects involving nanosecond pulse applications. Her research is supported by active collaborations with leading institutions in bioelectromagnetics and participation in major international conferences including BioEM and WCE.

Dr. El Zaklit maintains strong research ties with the global bioelectromagnetics community, evidenced by her invited presentations at the Third World Congress on Electroporation (2019), UNR Neuro Symposium (2019), and Perry Initiative outreach programs. Her laboratory work integrates advanced biophysical techniques to study fundamental cellular responses with translational potential in medical electroporation technologies.