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Brittany Graf, Visiting Scientist

Education

  • 2009 – 2014 Ph. D. student in Plant Biology, Rutgers University, SEBS, New Brunswick, NJ. Graduated in 2014.
    • Thesis: “Pharmacological applications of phytoecdysteroid-enriched extract from Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.)”
  • 2003 – 2007 B. S. in Biology, Women’s & Gender Studies, The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ.
    • Thesis: “Population Dynamics and Invasiveness of the Perennial Grass Andropogon virginicus (Broomsedge): Implications for the Regulatory Role of the Smut Fungus Pathogen Sporisorium elisii in Eastern Populations and Enemy Escape in Hawaii”

Experience

  • 2015 – 2017 Postdoctoral Associate, Rutgers University; Project (Co-PI): Bioexploration of Medicinal Plants of Cuba.

  • 2016 – 2017 OASIS Leadership and Professional Development Fellow, Rutgers University.

  • 2014 – 2015 Visiting Professor and Fulbright Fellow, UDLA, Ecuador; Project (PI): Discovering the Pharmacological Potential of Ecuadorian Market Plants using a Screens-to-Nature Participatory Approach.

  • Training Leader for the Global Institute for BioExploration (GIBEX):

    • Graf, B. L., Kellogg, J., Rojo, L. E., Joseph, G., Graziose, R. T., Plundrich, N., Fisher, R., Ayeni, A., Simon, J., Croom, B., Lila, M. A., and Raskin, I. GIBEX Training of Field-Deployable Methods for Medicinal Plant Extraction and Bioassay; Hands-On Training Sessions:

    1. Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA, May 24-26, 2017.
    2. Peripa Community of the Tsáchila Nation, Santo Domingo, Ecuador – April 17-19, 2015.
    3. University of Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador – Nov. 17-19, 2014.
    4. State Peninsula University of Santa Elena, Santa Elena, Ecuador – Oct. 30 – Nov. 01, 2014.
    5. University of the Americas, Quito, Ecuador – Sept. 29 – Oct. 04, 2014.
    6. Cienfuegos Botanic Garden, Cienfuegos, Cuba – June 26-29, 2014.
    7. University of Alaska-Anchorage, Alaska, USA. May 28-30, 2013.
    8. Universidad Arturo Prat, and Chariquima, Iquique, Chile, January 14-25, 2013.
    9. United Tribes Technical College, Bismarck, North Dakota, USA, August 5-8, 2012.
    10. University of Alaska-Anchorage & Fairbanks, Alaska, USA, June 11-15, 2012.
    11. University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA, July 20-22, 2011.
    12. University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia, May 18-21, 2011.
    13. National Biodiversity Center of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan, November 15-19, 2010.
    14. University of Nairobi, Kenya, March 16-20, 2010.
    15. United Tribes Technical College, Bismarck, North Dakota, USA, July 13-15, 2009.

  • Research Assistant – International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (ICBG) through the Conservation, Research and Education Opportunities (CREO) – Minority Health and Health Disparities International Research Training (MHIRT) Program, Panama, Panama.

    • Isolated bioactive compounds from marine cyanobacteria with activity against cancer, malaria, leishmaniasis, and Chagas’ disease through field collection, extraction, and bioassay-guided fractionation using chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques.

  • 2011: Teaching Assistant, Plant Genetics, Department of Plant Biology and Pathology, SEBS, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.

  • 2008: Rainforest conservation – Jatun Sacha Foundation, Ecuador.

  • 2007: Assistant – Institute of Economic Botany, New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY.

Awards

  1. Tropical Research Ecological Exchange (T. R. E. E.) Institute Sponsorship $200,000; 2015-2017.
  2. NIH Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center Pilot Grant $20,000; 2016-2017.
  3. U.S. Student Fulbright IIE fellowship, 2014-2015.
  4. Anne S. Chatham Fellowship in Medicinal Botany, Garden Club of America, 2014.
  5. Eileen Brennan Graduate Research Award, Department of Plant Biology, Rutgers University, 2014.
  6. Robert and Lillian White-Stevens Fellowship, Rutgers University, 2012-2014.
  7. Robert T. Rosen Memorial Scholarship, Rutgers University, 2014.
  8. Pre-Doctoral Leadership Development Fellowship, Rutgers University, 2011-2013.
  9. Graduate School-New Brunswick Pre-Dissertation Travel Award, Rutgers University, 2013.
  10. Department of Plant Biology Travel Award, Rutgers University, 2013.
  11. Garden Club of New Jersey Adella L. Wotherspoon Scholarship, 2013.
  12. CSSA C09 Division Graduate Student Poster Award, Second Place, 2012.
  13. Gerald O. Mott Meritorious Graduate Student Award in Crop Science, 2012.
  14. Garden Club of New Jersey Life Members Scholarship, 2012.
  15. Graduate School-New Brunswick Excellence Fellowship, Rutgers University, 2009-2010.
  16. CREO-MHIRT International Research Training Scholarship, 2008.

Publications

  • Book Chapters:
    • Graf, B. L. Quinoa as a source of human subsistence and endurance in the high Andes. In: Ethnobotany: A Phytochemical Perspective. Schmidt, B. M., and Cheng, D. M. (eds.), Wiley-Blackwell Press, in press, 2017.

    • Kubilios, K., Graf, B. L., A. Troncoso, J. Delatorre-Herrera, and L. E. Rojo. Reviving an Andean natural dye: betalains from Chenopodium quinoa. In: Ethnobotany: A Phytochemical Perspective. Schmidt, B. M., and Cheng, D. M. (eds.), Wiley-Blackwell Press, in press, 2017.

    • Rojo, L. E., D. Roopchand, B. Graf, D. Cheng, D. Ribnicky, and I. Raskin. Role of anthocyanins in skin aging and UV-induced skin damage. In: Anthocyanins in Health and Disease. T. C. Wallace and M. Giusti (eds.), CRC Press, ISBN 9781439894712, 2013.

  • Peer Reviewed Journal Articles:
    • Skubel, S., Dushenkov, V., Graf, B., Niu, Q., Poulev, A., Kalariya, H., Foxcroft, L., Raskin, I. Rapid, field-deployable method for collecting and preserving plant metabolome for biochemical and functional characterization. PLoS|ONE, Vol. 13, No. 9, article e0203569, 2018.

    • Graf, B. L., Li, Zh., Corradini, M. G., Kuhn, P., Newman, S. S., Salbaum, J. M., Raskin, I. Physicochemical differences between malanga (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) and potato (Solanum tuberosum) tubers are associated with differential effects on the gut microbiome. Journal of Functional Foods, Vol. 45, pp. 268-276, 2018.

    • Jaja-Chimedza, A., Zhang, L., Wolff, K., Graf, B. L., Kuhn, P., Moskal, K., Carmouche, R., Newman, S., Salbaum, J. M., Raskin, I. A dietary isothiocyanate-enriched moringa (Moringa oleifera) seed extract improves glucose tolerance in a high-fat-diet mouse model and modulates the gut microbiome. J. Functional Foods, Vol. 47, pp. 376-385, 2018.

    • Kim, Y., Wu, A. G., Jaja-Chimedza, A., Graf, B. L., Waterman, C., Verzi, M. P., Raskin, I. Isothiocyanate-enriched moringa seed extract alleviates ulcerative colitis symptoms in mice. PLOS One, September 18, 2017.

    • Jaja-Chimedza, A., Graf, B. L., Simmler, Ch., Kim, Y., Kuhn, P., Pauli, G. F., Raskin, I. Biochemical characterization and anti-inflammatory properties of an isothiocyanate-enriched moringa (Moringa oleifera) seed extract. PLOS One, August 8, 2017.

    • Graf, B. L., Kamat, S., Cheong, K. Y., Komarnytsky, S., Driscoll, M., and Di, R. Phytoecdysteroid-enriched quinoa seed leachate enhances health span and mitochondrial metabolism in Caenorhabditis elegans. Journal of Functional Foods, Vol. 37, pp. 1-7, 2017.

    • Dushenkov, V., Graf, B. L., and Lila, M. A. Botanical therapeutics in the modern world. Biological characteristics of medicinal and aromatic plants and role of these plants in medicine. N. I. Sidelnikov, Moscow Russia FGBNU, VILAR: 50-54. 2016.

    • Graf, B. L., Rojas-Silva, P., and Baldeón, M. E. Discovering the pharmacological potential of Ecuadorian market plants using a screens-to-nature participatory approach. Journal of Biodiversity, Bioprospecting and Development, Vol. 3, No. 1, 156, 2016.

    • Graf, B. L., Rojo, L., Delatorre-Herrera, J., Poulev, A., Del Pilar Calfio, C., and Raskin, I. Phytoecdysteroids and flavonoid glycosides among Chilean and commercial sources of Chenopodium quinoa: variation and correlation to physicochemical characteristics. J. Sci. Food Agric., Vol. 96, No. 2, pp. 633-643, 2015.

    • Anthony, T. G., Mirek, E. T., Bargoud, A. R., Phillipson-Weiner, L., DeOliveira, C. M., Graf, B. L., Kuhn, P. E., and Raskin, I. Evaluating the effect of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20HE) on mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling in the skeletal muscle and liver of rats. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, Vol. 40, No. 12, pp. 1324-1328, 2015.

    • Graf, B. L., Rojas-Silva, P., Rojo, L. E., Delatorre-Herrera, J., Baldeón, M. E., and Raskin, I. Innovations in Health Value and Functional Food Development of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.). Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, Vol. 14, No. 4, pp. 431-445, 2015.

    • B. L. Graf, Cheng, D. M., Esposito, D., Shertel, T., Poulev, A., Plundrich, N., Itenberg, D., Dayan, N., Lila, M. A., and I. Raskin. Compounds leached from quinoa seeds inhibit matrix metalloproteinase activity and intracellular reactive oxygen species. International Journal of Cosmetic Science, Vol. 37, No. 2, pp. 212-221, 2015.

    • B. L. Graf, A. Poulev, P. Kuhn, M. H. Grace, M. A. Lila, and I. Raskin. Quinoa seeds leach phytoecdysteroids and other compounds with anti-diabetic properties. Food Chemistry, Vol. 163, pp. 178-185, 2014.

    • Graf, B. L., Raskin, I., Cefalu, W. T., and D. M. Ribnicky. Plant-derived therapeutics for the treatment of metabolic syndrome. Curr. Opinion in Investigational Drugs, Vol. 11, No. 10, pp. 1107-1115, 2010.

  • Patent Application:
    • Raskin, I., Graf, B. L. Methods of making Quinoa leachates and uses thereof. U. S. Patent application # 20150157644, June 2015.

  • Presentations:
    1. Graf, B. L., Jaja-Chimedza, A., and Raskin, I. Comparative anti-inflammatory effect of moringa-derived isothiocyanate versus curcumin in vitro and in vivo. Annual Meeting at Experimental Biology, Chicago, IL, USA. April 25, 2017. (Poster)

    2. Graf, B. L. Development of functional foods and botanical supplements. Montana State University Sustainable Food and Bioenergy Systems Seminar Series, Bozeman, MT, USA. February 21, 2017. (Invited talk)

    3. Graf, B. L. Discovery and development of dietary phytochemicals for global health.
      • University of North Carolina at Greensboro Nutrition Seminar Series, Greensboro, NC, USA. February 13, 2017. (Invited talk)
      • The College of New Jersey Biology Seminar Series, Ewing, NJ, USA. February 10, 2017. (Invited talk)

    4. Graf, B. L. Establishing a USA-Cuba partnership in bioexploration. School of Environmental and Biological Sciences International Programs Faculty Retreat, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA. December 9, 2016. (Invited talk)

    5. Graf, B. L. Evaluation of the therapeutic properties of plants used by herbalist Gallego Otero via collaboration with Rutgers University and the Tropical Research Ecological Exchange Institute. First Conference on Internationalization, University of Cienfuegos, Cienfuegos, Cuba. October 25, 2016. (Invited talk and poster)

    6. Graf, B. L. Anti-aging properties of quinoa lixivium. In-Cosmetics USA, New York, NY, USA. September 7, 2016. (Invited talk)

    7. Graf, B. L. Cuban medicinals. Rutgers University Alumni T.R.E.E. Institute Tour of Cuba, Gallego Otero Medicinal Plant Farm and Research Center, Cienfuegos, Cuba. January & April 2016. (Invited talks)

    8. Graf, B. L., Poulev, A., Kuhn, P., Esposito, D., Lila, M. A., Raskin, I. Method to harness bioactive secondary metabolites from intact Quinoa seeds with implications for chronic disease prevention. Poster at the Annual meeting of the American Society of Pharmacognosy, July 25 – 29, Copper Mountain, CO, 2015.

    9. T. Anthony, E. Mirek, C. DeOliveira, A. Bargoud, D. Marella, L. Phillipson-Weiner, B. Graf, P. She, P. Kuhn, G. Wilson, and I. Raskin. Evaluating the effect of 20-hydroxyecdysone on leucine signaling in the skeletal muscle and liver of male rats. The FASEB J., Vol. 28, No. 1, Supplement 820.7, 2014. Abstract.

    10. S. Kamat, B. Graf, S. Komarnytsky, C. Chang, S. Yeola, I. Raskin, and M. Driscoll. A plant-derived PPARα agonist regulates energy metabolism and extends health span in C. elegans. Aging, Metabolism, Stress, Pathogenesis, and Small RNAs in C. elegans Topic Meeting, Abstract # 67, 2014.

    11. Graf, B. L. and Kamat, S. C. elegans as a Model Organism for GIBEX. North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC) Higher Education Commission Workshop, Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, NC. Oral Presentation and Hands-On Demonstration, June 29 – 31, 2013.

    12. Graf, B. L., Rojo, L. E., Delatorre-Herrera, J., Calfio, C., Gomez, E., and Raskin, I. Increasing Profitability of Quinoa: Opportunities and Challenges for Aymaras of Northern Chile. Oral Presentation at:
      • Society of Economic Botany Annual Meeting, Plymouth, England. June 30, 2013.
      • Master Gardeners of Essex County General Meeting, Roseland, NJ. April 13, 2013.
    13. Graf, B. L. Investigación de Productos Naturales en Aplicaciones Cosméticas [Investigation of Natural Products in Cosmetic Applications]. GIBEX-Chile Seminar Series, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique, Chile. Oral Presentation in Spanish, January 17, 2013.

    14. Graf, B. L. GIBEX-Estados Unidos & GIBEX-Chile: Historia, Objetivos, Impacto en la Comunidad [GIBEX-USA and GIBEX-Chile: History, Objectives, Community Impact]. GIBEX-Chile Seminar Series, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique, Chile. Oral Presentation in Spanish, January 15, 2013.

    15. Graf, B. L., Poulev, A., Kuhn, P., and Raskin, I. Biomedical Application of Secondary Metabolites from Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.). Poster at:
      • Health Science Research Symposium, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ. March 8, 2013.
      • Visions for a Sustainable Planet: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, OH. October 23, 2012.
    16. Graf, B., Kellogg, J., Plundrich, N., Fisher, R., Croom, B., Lila, M. A. Global Institute for Bioexploration (GIBEX) Training of Field-Deployable Methods for Medicinal Plant Extraction and Bioassays. Lectures:
      • United Tribes Technical College, Bismark, ND, August 6-8, 2012.
      • University of Alaska-Anchorage & Fairbanks, AK, June 11-15, 2012.

    17. B. Graf, A. Poulev, and I. Raskin. Effect of 20-Hydroxyecdysone on glucose and lipid metabolism in vitro. Implications for the role of Quinoa as a functional food to treat the metabolic syndrome. Poster at:
      • International Congress on Natural Product Research (ICNPR), New York, NY, July 31, 2012. Planta Med., Vol. 78, No. 11, PI244.
      • Nutrition, Endocrinology and Animal Sciences Conference, Rutgers University, April 4, New Brunswick, NJ, 2012.

    18. Graf, B., Rojas, P., Ayeni, A., and Raskin, I. The Global Institute for BioExploration (GIBEX): Building Research and Development Capacity Worldwide. Poster at:
      • International Congress on Natural Product Research (ICNPR), New York, NY, July 30, 2012. Planta Med., Vol. 78, No. 11, PF49.
      • Entrepreneurship Day, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, April 17, 2012.

    19. Graf, B. Adventures in Botanical Medicine: From Forests to Molecules. Invited Lecture at:
      • Master Gardeners of Essex County, Roseland, NJ. January 14, 2012.
      • Montville-Valhalla Garden Club Monthly Meeting, Montville, NJ. April 6, 2011.

    20. Esposito, D., Graf, B., Poulev, A., and Raskin, I. Wound Healing Activity of Phytoecdysteroids. 50th Anniversary of the Phytochemical Society of North America, Hilo, HI. December 10-15, 2011. Poster.

    21. Graf, B., et al. Women in Learning and Leadership (WILL) Alumnae Panel Presentation. College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ. October 2011. Invited Panelist.

    22. Graf, B. Graziose, R. T., and Simon, J. E. GIBEX Training of Field-Deployable Methods for Medicinal Plant Extraction and Bioassays. University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia. May 18-21, 2011. Lecture.

    23. Graf, B., Kellogg, J., Ayeni, A., Joseph, G., Lila, M. A., and Raskin, I. Establishing a global network of transdisciplinary research in medicinal botany. Botany Conference 2010: Joint Annual Meeting of the Botanical Society of America, et al, Providence, RI. August 2010. Oral Presentation.

    24. B. Graf, A. Donohue, J. Appleheimer. “Healing Places: Reports from the Workplace.” Women’s History Month Alumni Panel Presentation on Human Health and Environmental Sustainability. The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ, March 2009. Invited Lecture.

    25. Bojdani, E., B. Graf, R. Shupak, A. Romanchuk, J. Decker, and J. A. Morrison. Smut fungus infection in the perennial grass Andropogon virginicus (broomsedge): individual and population level consequences. Mid-Atlantic Chapter, Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, York, PA, March 2007. Poster Presentation.