Josephine Wee, Ph.D.
- Assistant Professor of Food Science
University Park, PA 16802
- Email jmw970@psu.edu
- Office 814-863-2956
- Pronouns She/Her
Areas of Expertise
- Food mycology
- Mycotoxins
- Toxicology
- Genotype-phenotype interaction
- Nutritional immunology
Education
- Postdoc, Nutritional Immunology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, Michigan
- Postdoc, Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
- Ph.D., Food Science and Environmental Toxicology, Michigan State University, Michigan
- B.S., Food Science, Michigan State University, Michigan
Research
The goal of our research is to understand the role of fungi (yeast and mold) and their contribution to food safety, quality, and sustainability. We use genomics and molecular biology approaches spanning diverse food and agriculture ecosystems to prevent spoilage and food waste, enhance food quality, and create a sustainable food system.
Awards and Honors
2014-2015 Liberty Hyde Bailey Scholars Program, Graduate Fellowship Award in Teaching (Michigan State University, USA)
2014 German Excellence Program Recipient, Jena School of Microbial Communication (Hans Knöll Institute, Germany)
2009 Marshall Plan Foundation Scholarship Recipient (BOKU Vienna, Austria)
2008 Delton and Dianne Parks Scholarship Recipient, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition (Michigan State University, USA)
2008 Virginia Dare Undergraduate Award Recipient
Publications
Sourdough starter culture microbiomes influence physical and chemical properties of wheat bread
Journal of Food Science, Clark, Caitlin S., Ohstrom, Ashley, Rolon, M. Laura, Smith, Molly, Wolfe, Benjamin E., Wee, Josephine, Van Buiten, Charlene B., 2024
Evaluation of Kluyveromyces spp. for conversion of lactose in different types of whey from dairy processing waste into ethanol
Frontiers in Microbiology, Ohstrom, Ashley Mae, Buck, Autumn Elizabeth, Du, Xue, Wee, Josephine, 2023
Evaluation of public submissions to the USDA for labeling of cell-cultured meat in the United States
Frontiers in Nutrition, Failla, Morgan, Hopfer, Helene, Wee, Josephine, 2023
Dietary Postbiotics Reduce Cytotoxicity and Inflammation Induced by Crystalline Silica in an In Vitro RAW 264.7 Macrophage Model
Foods, Du, Xue, Rodriguez, Jessica, Wee, Josephine, 2022
Salivary α-amylase activity and flow rate explain differences in temporal flavor perception in a chewing gum matrix comprising starch-limonene inclusion complexes
Food Research International, Goza, Jennifer, Ziegler, Gregory, Wee, Josephine, Hayes, John, Hopfer, Helene, 2022
Microbial and chemical analysis of non-saccharomyces yeasts from chambourcin hybrid grapes for potential use in winemaking
Fermentation, Feng, Chun Tang, Du, Xue, Wee, Josephine, 2021
Characterization of Microbial Dynamics and Volatile Metabolome Changes During Fermentation of Chambourcin Hybrid Grapes From Two Pennsylvania Regions
Frontiers in Microbiology, Wang, Hung Li, Hopfer, Helene, Cockburn, Darrell W., Wee, Josephine, 2021
A Digital Fluency Framework to Support 21st-Century Skills
Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning, Fleming, E, Robert, Jenay, Sparrow, Jennifer, Wee, Josephine, Dudas, P, Slattery, M, 2021
Docosahexaenoic Acid Suppresses Silica-Induced Inflammasome Activation and IL-1 Cytokine Release by Interfering With Priming Signal
Frontiers in Immunology, Wierenga, Kathryn A., Wee, Josephine, Gilley, Kristen N., Rajasinghe, Lichchavi D., Bates, Melissa A., Gavrilin, Mikhail A., Holian, Andrij, Pestka, James J., 2019
Novel insights into global translational regulation through Pumilio family RNA-binding protein Puf3p revealed by ribosomal profiling
Current Genetics, Wang, Zhe, Sun, Xuepeng, Wee, Josephine, Guo, Xiaoxian, Gu, Zhenglong, 2019
Understand the genomic diversity and evolution of fungal pathogen Candida glabrata by genome-wide analysis of genetic variations
ImmunoMethods, Guo, Xiaoxian, Zhang, Ruoyu, Li, Yudong, Wang, Zhe, Ishchuk, Olena P., Ahmad, Khadija M., Wee, Josephine, Piskur, Jure, Shapiro, Joshua A., Gu, Zhenglong, 2019
Activation of aflatoxin biosynthesis alleviates total ROS in Aspergillus parasiticus
Toxins, Kenne, Gabriel J., Gummadidala, Phani M., Omebeyinje, Mayomi H., Mondal, Ananda M., Bett, Dominic K., McFadden, Sandra, Bromfield, Sydney, Banaszek, Nora, Velez-Martinez, Michelle, Mitra, Chandrani, Mikell, Isabelle, Chatterjee, Saurabh, Wee, Josephine, Chanda, Anindya, 2018
The fungal bZIP transcription factor AtfB controls virulence-associated processes in Aspergillus parasiticus
Toxins, Wee, Josephine, Hong, Sung Yong, Roze, Ludmila V., Day, Devin M., Chanda, Anindya, Linz, John E., 2017
RNA Seq analysis of the role of calcium chloride stress and electron transport in mitochondria for malachite green decolorization by Aspergillus niger
Fungal Genetics and Biology, Gomaa, Ola M., Selim, Nabila S., Wee, Josephine, Linz, John E., 2017
Bioactive compounds in Diospyros mafiensis roots inhibit growth, sporulation and aflatoxin production by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus
World Mycotoxin Journal, Mmongoyo, J. A., Nair, M. G., Linz, J. E., Wu, F., Mugula, J. K., Dissanayake, A. A., Zhang, C., Day, D. M., Wee, J. M., Strasburg, G. M., 2017
Effects of zinc chelators on aflatoxin production in Aspergillus parasiticus
Toxins, Wee, Josephine, Day, Devin M., Linz, John E., 2016
Aflatoxin biosynthesis is a novel source of reactive oxygen species—a potential redox signal to initiate resistance to oxidative stress?
Toxins, Roze, Ludmila V., Laivenieks, Maris, Hong, Sung Yong, Wee, Josephine, Wong, Shu Shyan, Vanos, Benjamin, Awad, Deena, Ehrlich, Kenneth C., Linz, John E., 2015
Aflatoxin Biosynthesis: Regulation and Subcellular Localization, Linz, John, Wee, Josephine, Roze, Ludmila, 2015
Aspergillus parasiticus SU-1 genome sequence, predicted chromosome structure, and comparative gene expression under aflatoxin-inducing conditions: Evidence that differential expression contributes to species phenotype
Eukaryotic Cell, Linz, John E., Wee, Josephine, Roze, Ludmila V., 2014
