Julia Halterman

Dr. Julia Halterman is an Assistant Professor of Biology at EMU who has taught Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II, Animal Form & Function, Mammalian Physiology, and Nutrition Fundamentals. Julia also serves as faculty for the MA in Biomedicine program and instructs the graduate-level Human Gross & Microscopic Anatomy cadaver dissection course and a Biomedicine Transdisciplinary Seminar. Julia received her B.S. in Biology at Texas A&M University and her Ph.D. in Pharmacology at the University of Virginia. While completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Virginia, Julia taught as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Piedmont Virginia Community College.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in America, and atherosclerotic plaque build-up in the arteries of the body can lead to heart attack or stroke. Julia’s research is focused on better understanding the molecular mechanisms that drive vascular disease. She is working to characterize the role of the transcription factor NFAT5 in its regulation of vascular smooth muscle cells and macrophages in atherosclerotic plaques. Apart from teaching and research, Julia enjoys time with her husband, family and friends and loves being active outdoors.

• Ph.D. in Pharmacology, 2011
  University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

• M.S. in Biological and Physical Sciences, 2008
  University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

• B.S. in Biology, Minor in Business, 2006
  Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

• Halterman JA, Kwon HM, Leitinger N, Wamhoff BR. NFAT5 expression in bone marrow-derived cells enhances atherosclerosis and drives macrophage migration. Front Physiol 3: 313, 2012.
• Halterman JA, Kwon HM, Wamhoff BR. Tonicity-independent regulation of the osmosensitive transcription factor TonEBP (NFAT5). Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 302(1): C1-8, 2011.
• Halterman JA, Kwon HM, Zargham R, Schoppee Bortz PD, Wamhoff BR. Nuclear factor of activated T-cells 5 regulates vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic modulation. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 31(10): 2287-2296, 2011.
• Lee MY, Garvey SM, Baras AS, Lemmon JA, Schoppee Bortz PD, Gomez MF, Daum G, LeBoeuf RC, Wamhoff BR. Integrative genomics identifies DSCR1 (RCAN1) as a novel mediator of NFAT-dependent phenotypic modulation in vascular smooth muscle cells. Hum Mol Genet 19(3): 468-479, 2010.
• Orr AW, Lee MY, Lemmon JA, Yurdagul A Jr, Gomez MF, Schoppee Bortz PD, Wamhoff BR. Molecular mechanisms of collagen isotype-specific modulation of smooth muscle cell phenotype. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 29(2): 225-231, 2009.
• Lemmon JA, Wamhoff BR. “FRNKly, Smooth Muscle, I Don’t Give a CArG!": A Novel Mechanism for Smooth Muscle Cell Differentiation. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 28(12): 2091-2093, 2008.

• Halterman JA. Atherosclerotic plaque build-up in our arteries: uncovering the novel role of a transcription factor in this complex disease. Invited Speaker, Eastern Mennonite University Suter Science Seminar. Harrisonburg, VA, 2012.
• Halterman JA. Atherosclerosis: the build-up of plaque in our arteries. Invited Speaker, Eastern Mennonite High School AP Biology Class. Harrisonburg, VA, 2012.
• Halterman JA, Kwon HM, Leitinger N, Wamhoff BR. NFAT5 expression in bone marrow-derived cells enhances atherosclerosis and drives macrophage migration. Poster Presentation, Experimental Biology Annual Conference. San Diego, CA, 2012.
• Halterman JA, Kwon HM, Schoppee Bortz PD, Wamhoff BR. Nuclear factor of activated T-cells 5 (NFAT5) regulates vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic modulation. Poster Presentation, Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology Annual Conference. Chicago, IL, 2011.
• Halterman JA, Kwon HM, Schoppee Bortz PD, Wamhoff BR. Nuclear factor of activated T-cells 5 (NFAT5) regulates vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic modulation. Poster Presentation, Experimental Biology Annual Conference. Washington D.C., 2011.
• Halterman JA, Wamhoff BR. NFAT5 regulates vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic modulation and accelerates atherosclerosis. Invited Speaker, James Madison University Virginia Biotechnology Association Graduate Bioscience Symposium. Harrisonburg, VA, 2011.
• Halterman JA, Wamhoff BR. NFAT5 regulates vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic modulation and accelerates atherosclerosis. Invited Speaker, University of Virginia Department of Pharmacology Retreat. Whitehall, VA, 2011.
• Lemmon JA, Kwon HM, Wamhoff BR. NFAT5 positively regulates SMαA gene expression in vascular smooth muscle. Invited Speaker, American Physiological Society, Cardiovascular Section, Coordinate Regulation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Gene Expression, Cell Phenotype, and Vessel Function, Experimental Biology Annual Conference. Anaheim, CA, 2010.
• Lemmon JA, Kwon HM, Wamhoff BR. NFAT5 positively regulates SMαA gene expression in vascular smooth muscle. Poster Presentation, Experimental Biology Annual Conference. Anaheim, CA, 2010.
• Lemmon JA, Zargham R, Kwon HM, Wamhoff BR. The tonicity response factor NFAT5 is a novel regulator of smooth muscle cell phenotypic modulation. Poster Presentation, Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology Annual Conference. Washington D.C., 2009.

• James Madison University Bridging the Valley STEM Collaborative Participant , 2013
• Research Mentor to an Eastern Mennonite High School Biology Student, 2013
• Eastern Mennonite High School AP Biology Class Invited Speaker, 2012
• Sunday School Teacher & Youth Group Leader for 6th-12th grade students, Meadows Presbyterian Church, Charlottesville, VA, 2008-2012
• Career Fair Speaker, Piedmont Virginia Community College, Charlottesville, VA, 2009

• NSF-Bridging the Valley Faculty Development Funds Award Winner, 2013
• American Heart Association Mid-Atlantic Affiliate Predoctoral Fellowship Recipient, 2010-2012
• Invited Reviewer, Journal of Cell Biology, 2012
• Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology Junior Investigator Award for Women Finalist, 2011
• American Physiological Society Outstanding Student Presentation in Coordinate Regulation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Gene Expression, Cell Phenotype, and Vessel Function, Experimental Biology Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA, 2010
• Tomorrow’s Professor Today Professional Development Program, University of Virginia, 2009-2011
• NIH Pharmacologic Sciences Training Grant Recipient, University of Virginia, 2007-2010
• Dean’s Scholarship Award, University of Virginia, 2006-2011
• Graduated Summa Cum Laude, Texas A&M University, 2006

• Human Anatomy & Physiology Society Member, 2013-present

• Human Anatomy & Physiology Society Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV, 2013
• Experimental Biology Annual Conference, San Diego, CA, 2012

• BMC 612, Human Gross & Microscopic Anatomy, 2013

• Preprofessional Health Sciences Committtee, 2013-present
• Suter Science Seminar Invited Speaker, 2013