Animal Science Faculty

Rocio M. Rivera

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Assistant Professor

Mammalian Embryology/Developmental Epigenetics

Animal Science Research Center
Division Of Animal Sciences
Columbia, MO 65211

• Phone: 573-882-6765
• Email
• Curriculum Vitae
• Lab Site

Education

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Experience

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University of Missouri - Division of Animal Sciences
Assistant Professor - August 2007 - present

University of Pennsylvania - Department of Biology
Post-doctoral Researcher - January 2004-July 2007

University of Florida - Department of Animal Sciences/Reproductive Physiology
Ph.D. Student (1999-2003)

University of Florida - Department of Animal Sciences/Reproductive Physiology
Laboratory Technician/Supervisor (1996-2003)

Iowa State University - Department of Animal Science/Reproductive Physiology
Graduate Research Assistant (1993-1995)
Laboratory and Surgical Assistant (1991-1993)

Iowa State University - College of Veterinary Medicine/Pathology Department
Laboratory Assistant (1991-1992)

Iowa State University - Department of Animal Science Teaching Farm
Facilities Assistant (Summer 1990)

National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Ames, IA
Weekend animal caretaker (Fall 1989)

Funding

Internal

• University of Missouri Research Board - August 2009-November 2010 - $42,000

Invited Talks

• Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS (November 2009) -Effects of assisted reproductive technologies on the epigenetic program of pre- and post-implantation mouse embryos.
• Greenwald Symposium - Kansas City, KS (October 7-9, 2009) - The epigenetic program of preimplantation mouse embryos is altered by assisted reproductive technology procedures.
• Society for the Study of Reproduction, Frontiers in Reproduction Symposium - Pittsburgh, PA (July 18-22, 2009) - Epigenetic Effects of Manipulating Mouse Oocytes and Preimplantation Embryos.
• Molecular Reproduction and Development Conference, Providence, RI - (March 26-28, 2009) - Effects of superovulation and/or culture on DNA methylation and expression of epigenetic modifiers in preimplantation mouse embryos.
• Ponce School of Medicine - August 2008 - Manipulations of mouse embryos prior to implantation result in aberrant expression of imprinted genes on day 9.5 of development.

Service - University of Missouri

Departmental

• Position Search Committee for job description ID: 1505331 - Department: Animal Science Position Title: Assistant Professor - reproductive biology/genomics
• Department Graduate Committee (2008-present)

Seminars

• Reproductive Physiology Seminar Series - December 2008
• Reproductive Physiology Seminar Series - December 2009

Graduate and Undergraduate groups

• University of Missouri Pre Vet Freshman Interest Group CoFac - August 2008-May 2009
• Graduate student symposium poster judge (2008)
• Academic Quadrathlon Oral Presentation judge (2008, 2009)

Undergraduate advising

• Academic year 2008-2009 - 10 students freshman
• Academic year 2009-2010 -

Course Development

• Survey of Epigenetics - (Animal Science 8415). This is a 3h course that introduces graduate students to the various areas of epigenetics and the research concerning epigenetics in eukaryotes. The course is designed to be a combination of lectures, paper discussions, and research talks by invited faculty speakers working in epigenetics.

Graduate and Undergraduate Student Training

Graduate

• Md. Almamun - M.S. - expected graduation date May 2010
• Katherine Robbins - M.S. - expected graduation date August 2010

Undergraduate

• TR - Fall 2008 to present - Life Sciences Undergraduate Research Program Fellow for academic year 2009-2010.
• RZ - Fall 2008
• EM - Miller Intern participating in the Life Sciences Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (Summer 2008)

Teaching Experience

• Instructor - Survey of Epigenetics - University of Missouri (2009- present)
• Instructor - Techniques in Ruminant Reproduction – University of Florida (1999-2002)
• Taught over 20 people the techniques required for producing bovine embryos in the laboratory as well as several other laboratory techniques (1996-2003)
• Teaching Assistant – Animal Reproduction Laboratory – Iowa State University (1996)

Reviewer

Journal

• Molecular Reproduction and Development
• FASEB journal
• BOR journal
• Fertility and Sterility
• International Journal of Andrology

• Reproduction, Fertility and Development
• BMC Developmental Biology

• Revista Científica de la Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias de la Universidad del Zulia, Venezuela (Journal of the Veterinary School of the University of Zulia, Venezuela)

Grant

• BARD, the United States - Israel Binational Agricultural Research & Development Fund

Professional Development

Extramural

• The Genome Access Course, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY (2007)
• Frontiers in Reproduction, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA (2007)

Intramural

• University of Missouri Colleague Circle Mentoring Program (Fall 2007 - Spring 2008)
• University of Missouri Grant Writing Institute - (Summer 2008)
• College of Agriculture Food and Natural Resources Teachers College - (Spring 2009 - Spring 2010)
• National Science Foundation Mizzou ADVANCE Mentoring Program - (Fall 2009 - Spring 2010)

Summary of Qualifications

• Various cellular and molecular biology techniques
• In vitro production of bovine embryos
• Embryo and cell culture
• Fluorescent and electron microscopy
• Surgical Experience (porcine, ovine, murine - embryo collections and transfers, ovariectomies)

Animal Experience

• Cow
• Pig
• Mouse
• Sheep
• Guinea Pig
• Rat
• Rhesus Monkey

Teaching Experience

• Instructor - Techniques in Ruminant Reproduction - University of Florida (1999-2002)
• Taught over 20 people the techniques required for producing bovine embryos in the laboratory as well as several other laboratory techniques (1996-2003)
• Teaching Assistant - Animal Reproduction Laboratory - Iowa State University (1996)

Honors and Awards

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• FASEB MARC Fellow Oral Presenter Travel Awardee to participate in the 39th Annual Society for the Study of Reproduction Meeting (2006)
• Sigma Xi Graduate Student Research Award - University of Florida Chapter (2004)
• Elected as a member of Gamma Sigma Delta, the Agriculture Honor Society (2004)
• University of Florida Department of Animal Sciences Graduate Student of the Year - PhD category (2003)
• FASEB MARC Fellow Poster Presenter Travel Awardee to participate in the 36th Annual Society for the Study of Reproduction Meeting (2003)
• Ruska Award Recipient for outstanding student presentation in electron microscopy ­Southeastern Electron Microscopy Society (2002)
• FASEB MARC Fellow Poster Presenter Travel Awardee to participate in the 35th Annual Society for the Study of Reproduction Meeting (2002)
• USDA National Research Initiative Fellow - Presented at the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Reproduction (2000)
• Superior Accomplishment Award Recipient - USPS Scientific/Technical, University of Florida Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences (1999)
• Elected as a member of the Florida Chapter of Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society (1997)
• Nominated for Work-Study employee of the year at Iowa State University (1994)
• Recipient of St Jude's Scholarship (St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Student Center - Ames, Iowa - 1992)

Society Memberships

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present

• Society for the Study of Reproduction
• Sigma Xi – The Scientific Research Society

past

• Gamma Sigma Delta – The Agriculture Honor Society
• International Embryo Transfer Society
• American Dairy Science Association
• American Society of Animal Science
• Southeastern Electron Microscopy Society
• American Association for the Advancement of Science

Professional Society Involvement

• Minisymposium [Determinants of Pre implantation Embryonic Development] Co-Chair for the 38th Annual Society for the Study of Reproduction Meeting (Quebec City, Canada­July 2005)
• Member Education Committee Society for the Study of Reproduction (2002-2004)
• Abstract Ad hoc review panel for the 35th Annual Society for the Study of Reproduction Meeting (2002)
• Platform Session [Sperm-Egg Binding and Egg Activation] Co-Chair for the 35th Annual Society for the Study of Reproduction Meeting (Baltimore, Maryland - 2002)

University Involvement

• Co-Director of the 2002 University of Florida Graduate and Professional Student Council Research Forum
• Member of the University of Florida Animal Sciences Graduate Student Association (ASGSA; 2000-2003)
• Member of the Professional Development Committee for ASGSA (2002-2003)
• University of Florida Graduate Student Council (GSC) Representative Alternate for ASGSA (2001-2003)
• Member of the University of Florida Hispanic Graduate Student Association (HGSA; 2001-2003)
• Liaison between HGSA and GSC (2001-2002)
• Interim Vice-President for HGSA (Fall 2002)
• Member of the University of Florida Association of Hispanic Faculty and Staff (200 1­2003)
• Member of the University of Florida "Union de Estudiantes Puertorriquenos Activos" (2002-2003)
• Member of Active Scholars of Puerto Rico - Ames, Iowa (1993-1994)

Extension

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• Workshop on Animal Reproduction for Florida's 4H competition group (Summer 2000)

Community Service

• Bi-National Health week volunteer – Columbia, MO (2007)
• Alachua Region Science Fair Judge - Gainesville, Florida (2003)

Language

• Spanish and English

Extracurricular Activities and Interests

• Columbia County Civic Orchestra – Columbia MO (2007-present)
• Delaware County Symphony Orchestra, Aston, PA (2004- present)
• Member of St Augustine Church Choir - Gainesville, Florida (1996-2000)
• Member of St. Thomas Aquinas Church Choir - Ames, Iowa (1988-1995)
• Participated in Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority - Ames, Iowa (1994-1995)
• St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Student Center Treasurer - Ames, Iowa (1993-1994)
• Iowa State University Symphony Orchestra - Ames, Iowa (1988-1993)
• San German Philharmonic Orchestra- San German, Puerto Rico (1987-1988)
• ARMY ROTC Ranger Challenge Competition Team - University of Puerto Rico Mayagiiez Campus, Mayagiiez, Puerto Rico (1987-1988)

Publications

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Theses

Cellular, Subcellular, and Developmental responses oftwo-cell bovine embryos to a physiologically relevant heat shock. Dissertation. University of Florida. Gainesville, Florida. 2003.

A comparison of pre implantation development of embryos from Chinese Meishan and Yorkshire pig breeds. Thesis. Iowa State University. Ames, Iowa. 1995.

Invited Reviews

Rivera, RM. (2009) Epigenetic aspects of fertilization and preimplantation development in mammals: lessons from the mouse" Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine. (submitted)

Refereed Journals

Huffman SR, Pak YJ, Rivera RM. (2009 - in preparation). Epigenetic effects of manipulating mouse oocytes and preimplantation embryos

Rivera, RM, Stein PS, Weaver JR, Mager J, Schultz RM, Bartolomei MS. 2008.
Manipulations of mouse embryos prior to implantation result in aberrant expression of imprinted genes on day 9.5 of development.  Human Molecular Genetics 17:1-14

Block, J, Rivera, RM, Drost M, Jousan FD, Looney CR, Silvestre F, Paula-Lopes, FF, Ocon, OM, Rosson, H, Bilby TR, Monson, RL, Rutledge, JJ, Hansen, PJ. 2005. Effect of bovine somatotropin and timed embryo transfer on pregnancy rates in non-lactating cows. Veterinary Record 156:175-176

Rivera, RM, Dahlgren, GM, de Castro e Paula, LA, Kennedy, RT, Hansen, PJ. 2004. Actions of thermal stress in two-cell bovine embryos: Oxygen metabolism, glutathione and ATP content, and the time-course of development. Reproduction 128:33-42

Rivera, RM, Kelley, KL, Erdos, GW, Hansen, PJ. 2004. Reorganization of microfilaments and microtubules by thermal stress in two-cell bovine embryos. Biology of Reproduction 70:1852-1862
Rivera, RM, Kelley, KL, Erdos, GW, Hansen, PJ. 2003. Alterations in ultrastructural morphology of in vivo and in vitro produced 2-cell bovine embryos following a physiological relevant heat shock. Biology of Reproduction 69:2068-2077

Block, J, Drost, M, Monson, RL, Rutledge, JJ, Rivera, RM, Paula-Lopes, FF, Ocón, OM, Hansen, PJ. 2003. Use of insulin-like growth factor-1 during embryo culture and treatment of recipients with gonadotropin-releasing hormone to increase pregnancy rates following the transfer of in vitro-produced embryos to heat-stressed, lactating cows. Journal of Animal Science 81:1590-1602

Krininger III, CE, Block, J, Al-Katanani, YM, Rivera, RM, Chase Jr, CC, Hansen, PJ. 2003. Differences between Brahman and Holstein cows in response to estrous synchronization, superovulation and resistance of embryos to heat shock. Animal Reproduction Science 78: 13-24

Paula-Lopes, FF, Chase, CC, Al-Katanani, YM, Krininger, CE III, Rivera, RM, Tekin, S, Majewski, AC, Ocon, OM, Olson, TA, Hansen, PJ. 2003. Genetic divergence in cellular resistance to heat shock in cattle: difference between breeds developed in temperate vs. hot climate in responses of preimplantation embryos, reproductive tract tissues and lymphocytes to elevated temperatures. Reproduction 125:285-294

Al-Katanani, YM, Rivera, RM, Hansen, PJ. 2002. Seasonal variation in development of in vitro produced bovine embryos. Veterinary Record 150:486

Hansen, PJ, Drost, M, Rivera, RM, Paula-Lopes, FF, Al-Katanani, YM, Kriniger III, CE Chase, CC, Jr. 2001. Adverse impact of heat stress on embryo production: causes and strategies for mitigation. Theriogenology 55:91-103

Rivera, RM, Hansen, PJ. 2001. Development of cultured bovine embryos after exposure to high temperatures in the physiological range. Reproduction 121:107-115

Rivera, RM, Al-Katanani, YM, Paula-Lopes, FF, Hansen, PJ. 2000. Short communication: Seasonal effects on development of bovine embryos produced by in vitro fertilization in a hot environment. Journal of Dairy Science 83:305-307

Brocas, C, Rivera, RM, Paula-Lopes, FF, McDowell, LR, Calhoun, MC, Staples, CR, Wilkinson, NS, Boning, AJ, Chenoweth, PJ, Hansen, PJ. 1997. Deleterious actions of gossypol on bovine spermatozoa, oocytes, and embryos. Biology of Reproduction 57:901-907

Rivera, RM, Youngs, CR, Ford, SP. 1996. A comparison of the number of inner cell mass and trophectoderm cells of preimplantation Meishan and Yorkshire pig embryos at similar developmental stages. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 106:111-116

Abstracts and Meetings Presentations

Rivera RM, Bartolomei, MS, Schultz, RM. Effects of in vitro culture on genomic imprinting in mouse embryos. Biology of Reproduction - 2006 Special Issue. Abtsract #93.

Rivera, RM, Kelley, KL, Erdos, GW, Hansen, PJ. 2003. Alterations in ultrastructural morphology of in vivo produced 2-cell bovine embryos following a physiologically-relevant heat shock. Biology of Reproduction 67:345 (Supplement 1)

Rivera, RM, Kelley, KL, Erdos, GW, Hansen, PJ. 2002. Heat shock induces ultrastructural changes in two-cell bovine embryos. Biology of Reproduction 66:158 (Supplement 1)

Rivera, RM, Kelley, KL, Erdos, GW, Hansen, PJ. 2002. Heat shock induces ultrastructural changes in two-cell bovine embryos. Proceedings of the Southeastern Microscopy Society, May, 2002

Block, J, Drost, M, Monson, RL, Rutledge, JJ, Rivera, RM, Paula-Lopes, FF, Ocón, OM, Hansen, PJ. 2002. Use of insulin-like growth factor-1 in culture and administration of GnRH to recipients to improve pregnancy rates following timed embryo transfer of in vitro-produced embryos to lactating dairy cows. Journal of Animal Science 81:1590-1602

Paula-Lopes, FF, Chase, CC, Al-Katanani, YM, Krininger III, CE, Rivera, RM, Tekin, S, Majewski AC, Ocon OM, Olson TA, Hansen PJ. 2001. Breed differences in resistance of bovine preimplantation embryos to heat shock. Theriogenology 55:436

Rivera, RM Hansen, PJ. Does physiological heat shock compromise bovine embryonic development in vitro? 2000. Biology of Reproduction 62 (Supplement 1):25

Rivera, RM, Al-Katanani, YM, Hansen, PJ. Response of 2-cell bovine embryos to heat shock: effect of magnitude and duration of heat shock and possible induced thermotolerance. 1998. Journal of Animal Science 76 (Supplement 1):219

Brocas, C, Rivera, RM, Paula-Lopes, FF, McDowell, LR, Calhoun, MC,. Staples, CR, Wilkinson, NS, Boning, AJ, Chenoweth, PJ, Hansen, PJ. 1997. Effects of gossypol on bovine spermatozoa and oocytes. Journal of Dairy Science 80 (Supplement 1):178

Rivera, RM Hansen, PJ. Effects of gossypol on bovine oocytes and preimplantation embryos. 1997. Biology of Reproduction 56 (Supplement 1):138

Ford, SP, Christenson, LK, Rivera, RM, Youngs, CR. Inhibitory effects of the Meishan uterus on growth-rate and estradiol-17-beta [E(2)] secretion of day 30 conceptuses. 1994. Biology of Reproduction 50(Supplement 1):175

Rivera, RM, Christenson, LK, Youngs, CR Ford, SP. Competitive survival, growth rate and estrogen secretory activity of Meishan and Yorkshire fetuses. 1994. Journal of Animal Science 72 (Supplement 1):78

Rivera, RM, Christenson, LK, Youngs, CR Ford, SP. Inner cell mass and trophectoderm cell numbers in Meishan and Yorkshire embryos. 1994. Abstract # 153 presented at the Midwestern section meetings of the ASAS in Des Moines, IA. March 21-23

Rivera, RM, Christenson, LK, Ford, SP. Endothelin-1 prolongs the PGF2a-induced reduction in progesterone secretion by corpora lutea on day 9 of the estrous cycle in gilts. 1993. Abstract # 155 presented at the Midwestern section meetings of the ASAS in Des Moines, IA. March 29-31

Internet

Rivera, RM, Brad AM, Edwards, JL, Ealy, AD, Monterroso, VM, Majewski, A.C., Franco, CM Hansen, PJ. Procedures for in vitro production of bovine embryos. September 2000. http://www.animal.ufl.edu/hansen/ivf/
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