Principal Investigator, Associate Professor (with tenure)

Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, School of Medicine

McAllister Heart Institute

UNC RNA Discovery Center

2016 March –


Affiliation Ph.D. programs:

1) Cell Biology and Physiology curriculum

2) Genetics and Molecular Biology (GMB) curriculum


Contact information

6340B Medical Biomolecular Research Building

111 Mason Farm Rd., Chapel Hill, NC 27599

Phone: 919-962-6260

E-mail: jimena_giudice@med.unc.edu


Education and training

Postdoctoral Fellow, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 8/2011 – 2/2016

  • Funding 1: American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship
  • Funding 2: PEW Charitable Trusts Postdoctoral Fellowship

Visiting Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Germany, 10/2008 – 3/2009

  • Funding: European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Short-term Fellowship

Ph.D. Biological Chemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, 12/2007 – 3/2011

  • Funding: National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET Argentina), Predoctoral Fellowship

M. Sc. comparable. Chemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, 8/2002 – 3/2007

M. Ed. comparable. Chemistry Education, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, 3/2001 – 5/2005


Scientific Positions, Appointments, and Affiliations

  • Associate professor (with tenure), UNC-Chapel Hill, Dept. Cell Biology & Physiology, 3/2023 – present
  • Associate Director of Graduate Studies, UNC-Chapel Hill, Cell Biology and Physiology (CBP) Curriculum, 3/2023 – present
  • Advisory board member, UNC-Chapel Hill, Postbac Research Education Program (PREP), 1/2023 – 12/2023
  • Faculty affiliated, UNC-Chapel Hill, RNA Discovery Center, 7/2022 – present
  • Tenure track assistant professor, UNC-Chapel Hill, Dept. Cell Biology & Physiology, 2/2016 – 2/2023
  • Faculty affiliated, UNC-Chapel Hill, McAllister Heart Institute, 8/2016 – present
  • Faculty affiliated, UNC-Chapel Hill, Genetics & Molecular Biology (GMB) Curriculum, 8/2016 – present
  • Postdoctoral fellow, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Dept. Pathology & Immunology, 8/2011 – 2/2016
  • Ph.D. student, School of Natural and Exact Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Dept. Biological Chemistry, 2/2007 – 3/2011
  • Visiting scientist, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Goettingen, Germany, 11/2008 – 3/2009
  • Research assistant, School of Natural and Exact Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Dept. Organic Chemistry, 7/2007 – 11/2007
  • Undergraduate research assistant, Center of Investigation in Porphyrins and Porphyria (CIPYP), Buenos Aires, Argentina, 10/2005 – 6/2007
  • Undergraduate research assistant, Institute of Biology & Experimental Medicine, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 8/2003 – 1/2004

Course Lecturer Positions at UNC-Chapel Hill

  • CBPH 852 Cell Biology and Physiology in Health and Disease. 11/2023. Role: Lecturer “RNA processing in cardiac development and disease”. Hours: 1.5 h/class (1 class total). Students: ~10.
  • CBPH 852 Cell Biology and Physiology in Health and Disease. 11/2022. Role: Lecturer “Alternative splicing in heart development”. Hours: 1.5 h/class (1 class total). Students: ~15.
  • CBPH 851 Modern Concepts in Cell Biology. 2/2022. Role: Lecturer “Alternative splicing in development”. Hours: 2 h/class (2 classes total). Students: ~15.
  • CBPH 852 Experimental Physiology of Human Health and Disease. 11/2021. Role: Lecturer “Gene expression and alternative splicing networks in striated muscle development”. Hours: 1.5 h/class (1 class total). Students: ~13.
  • CBPH 850 Modern Concepts in Cell Biology. 11/2021. Role: Lecturer – paper discussion co-leader together with Drs. Stephanie Gupton, Sarah Cohen, and Patrick Brennwald: “Discoveries and controversies in membrane trafficking”. Hours: 2 h/class (5 classes total). Students: ~13.
  • CBPH 851 Modern Concepts in Cell Biology. 2/2021. Role: Lecturer “Alternative splicing in development”. Hours: 2 h/class (2 classes total). Students: ~15.
  • CBPH 852 Experimental Physiology of Human Health and Disease. 10/2020. Role: Lecturer “Gene expression and alternative splicing networks in striated muscle development”. Hours: 1.5 h/class (1 class total). Students: ~13.
  • CBPH 851 Modern Concepts in Cell Biology II. 1/2020. Role: Lecturer “Alternative splicing in development”. Hours: 2 h/class (2 classes total). Students: ~12.
  • CBPH 850 Modern Concepts in Cell Biology. 11/2019. Role: Paper discussion co-leader together with Drs. Stephanie Gupton and Patrick Brennwald: “Discoveries and controversies in membrane trafficking”. Hours: 2 h/class (4 classes total). Students: ~13.
  • CBPH 852 Experimental Physiology of Human Health and Disease. 10/2019. Role: Lecturer “Gene expression and alternative splicing networks in striated muscle development”. Hours: 1.5 h/class (1 class total). Students: ~13.
  • Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP). 6/2019. Role: Lecturer “Lab notebooks” (class 1) and “Mentorship” (class 2). Hours: 1.5 h/class (2 classes total). Students: ~12.
  • CBPH 851 Modern Concepts in Cell Biology II. 1/2019. Role: Lecturer “Alternative splicing in development”. Hours: 2 h/class (2 classes total). Students: ~9.
  • CBPH 850 Modern Concepts in Cell Biology. 11/2018. Role: Lecturer – paper discussion co-leader together with Drs. Stephanie Gupton and Patrick Brennwald: “Discoveries and controversies in membrane trafficking”. Hours: 2 h/class (4 classes total). Students: ~10.
  • PATH 767 Molecular and Cellular Biology of Cardiovascular Diseases. 3/2018. Role: Lecturer “Alternative splicing in heart physiology”. Hours: 1.5 h/class (1 class total). Students: ~3.
  • CBPH 852 Experimental Physiology of Human Health and Disease. 10/2018. Role: Lecturer “Gene expression and alternative splicing networks in striated muscle development”. Hours: 1.5 h/class (1 class total). Students: ~13.
  • Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP). 6/2018. Role: Lecturer “Lab notebooks” (class 1) and “Mentorship” (class 2). Hours: 1.5 h/class (2 classes total). Students: ~12.
  • CBPH 851 Modern Concepts in Cell Biology II. 1/2018. Role: Lecturer “Alternative splicing in development”. Hours: 2 h/class (1 class total). Students: ~9.
  • CBPH 850 Modern Concepts in Cell Biology. 11/2017. Role: Lecturer – paper discussion co-leader together with Drs. Stephanie Gupton and Patrick Brennwald: “Discoveries and controversies in membrane trafficking”. Hours: 2 h/class (4 classes total). Students: ~10.
  • CBPH 852 Experimental Physiology of Human Health and Disease. 9/2017. Role: Lecturer “Gene expression and alternative splicing networks in striated muscle development”. Hours: 1.5 h/class (1 class total). Students: ~8.
  • CBPH 894 Modern Concepts in Cell Biology II. 1/2017. Role: Lecturer “Alternative splicing in development”. Hours: 2 h/class (1 class total). Students: ~9.
  • D. student’s seminar series, Genetics and Molecular Biology (GMB) Curriculum. 1/2017– 4/2017. Role: Instructor. Hours: 1.5 h/week (from January to April). Students: ~25.
  • CBPH 852 Experimental Physiology of Human Health and Disease. 9/2016. Role: Lecturer “Gene expression and alternative splicing networks in striated muscle development”. Hours: 1.5 h/class (1 class total). Students: ~5.
  • Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP). 6/2016. Role: Lecturer “Critical analysis of scientific literature”. Hours: 2 h/class (2 classes total). Students: ~12.

Co-mentor in the First Year Group (FYG) Graduate Students, UNC-Chapel Hill

  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. Program (BBSP). 8/2022 – 5/2023. Role: Co-mentor of the First-Year Group Ph.D. students. Hours: 1.5 h/wk. Students: ~16-20.
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. Program (BBSP). 8/2021 – 5/2022. Role: Co-mentor of the First-Year Group Ph.D. students. Hours: 1.5 h/wk. Students: ~16-20.
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. Program (BBSP). 8/2020 – 5/2021. Role: Co-mentor of the First-Year Group Ph.D. students. Hours: 1.5 h/wk. Students: ~16-20.
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. Program (BBSP). 8/2019 – 5/2020. Role: Co-mentor of the First-Year Group Ph.D. students. Hours: 1.5 h/wk. Students: ~16-20.
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. Program (BBSP). 8/2018 – 5/2019. Role: Co-mentor of the First-Year Group Ph.D. students. Hours: 1.5 h/wk. Students: ~16-20.
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. Program (BBSP). 8/2017 – 5/2018. Role: Co-mentor of the First-Year Group Ph.D. students. Hours: 1.5 h/wk. Students: ~16-20.
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. Program (BBSP). 8/2016 – 5/2017. Role: Co-mentor of the First-Year Group Ph.D. students. Hours: 1.5 h/wk. Students: ~16-20.

Teaching Positions at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina (all by competitive contests)

  • Teaching assistant type 1 (10 h/wk teaching), 4/2011 – 2/2014 (academic leave from 8/2011 to 2/2014). Dept. Chemical Biology. Courses: Molecular Biology (~20 students)
  • Teaching assistant type 1 (10 h/wk teaching), 4/2010 – 2/2014 (academic leave from 8/2011 to 2/2014). Dept. Chemical Biology. Courses: Chemical Biology (~25 students), Instrumental Analysis (~20 students)
  • Teaching assistant type 1 (10 h/wk teaching), 4/2010 – 7/2011. Dept. Inorganic, Analytical & Physical Chemistry. Courses: General and Inorganic Chemistry 1 (~70 students)
  • Teaching assistant type 1 (10 h/wk teaching), 5/2010 – 3/2011. Dept. Chemical Biology. Courses: Microbiology (~15 students), Chemical Biology (~25 students)
  • Teaching assistant type 1 (10 h/wk teaching), 6/2008 – 2/2010. Dept. Physiology & Molecular Cell Biology. Courses: Biotechnology of Plants (~15 students), Topics and Concepts of Biotechnology (~15 students), Molecular Genetics (~30 students)
  • Teaching assistant type 1 (10 h/wk teaching), 8/2008 – 5/2010. Dept. Organic Chemistry. Courses: Food Chemistry (~15 students), Bases of Analytical Chemistry (~15 students)
  • Teaching assistant type 1 (10 h/wk teaching + 30 h/wk research), 9/2007 – 3/2008. Dept. Organic Chemistry. Courses: Organic Chemistry 1 (~20 students)

Education Positions in Elementary and High Schools in Argentina

  • Pedagogy Consultant, Colegio Esclavas del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, Buenos Aires, 4/2011 – 7/2011
  • Teacher Physical Chemistry, Colegio Esclavas del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, Ituzaingó. 2nd year (~30 students), 4/2011 – 7/2011
  • Teacher Chemistry, Colegio Los Robles, Buenos Aires. 4th year A (~25 students), 10/2006 – 12/2006
  • Teacher Chemistry, Colegio Los Robles, Buenos Aires. 4th year B (~25 students), 10/2006 – 12/2006
  • Teacher Physical Chemistry, Colegio Los Robles, Buenos Aires. 3rd year A (~25 students), 10/2006 – 12/2006
  • Teacher Physical Chemistry, Colegio Esclavas del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, Ituzaingó. 2nd year A (~30 students), 3/2005 – 2/2008
  • Teacher Physical Chemistry, Colegio Esclavas del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, Ituzaingó. 2nd year B (~30 students), 3/2005 – 2/2008
  • Teacher Science Lab, Colegio Esclavas del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, Buenos Aires. 6th and 7th grades (~30 students), 3/2004 – 12/2004

Selected publications [* denotes corresponding author]

  • Wiedner HJ, Blue RE, Sadovsky M, Mills CA, Wehrens XT, Herring LE, Giudice J*. (2023). RBFOX2 regulated EYA3 isoforms partner with SIX4 or ZBTB1 to control transcription during myogenesis. iScience. 26 (11): 108258. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108258.
  • Hinkle ER, Blue RE, Tsai, Y-H, Combs M, Davi J, Coffey AR, Boriek A, Taylor JM, Parker J, Giudice J*. (2022). Mechanical stretching induces global transcriptional and posttranscriptional transitions and changes in SR proteins in muscle cells. Communications Biology. 5 (1): 987. doi: 10.1038/s42003-022-03915-7.
  • Wiedner HJ, Torres EV, Blue RE, Tsai YH, Parker J, Giudice J*. (2022). SET domain containing 2 (SETD2) influences metabolism and alternative splicing during myogenesis. FEBS Journal. 289 (21): 6799-6816.
  • Gentile GM#, Gamarra J#, Engels N#, Blue RE#, Hoerr I, Wiedner HJ, Hinkle ER, Cote JL, Leverence E, Mills A, Herring L, Tan X, Giudice J*. (2022). The synaptosome-associated protein 23 (SNAP23) is necessary for proper myogenesis. FASEB Journal. 36 (8): e22441. doi: 10.1096/fj.202101627RR. # co-first authors.
  • Hinkle ER#, Wiedner HJ#, Torres E, Jackson M, Black AJ, Blue RE, Harris SE, Guzman BB, Gentile GM, Lee EY, Tsai Y-H , Parker J, Dominguez D, Giudice J*. (2022). Alternative splicing regulation of membrane trafficking genes during myogenesis. RNA, 28 (4): 523-540. # co-first authors.
  • Hinkle ER#, Essader TO#, Gentile GM, Giudice J*. (2021). ViaFuse: Fiji macros to calculate skeletal muscle cell viability and fusion index. Skeletal Muscle, 11 (1): 28. doi: 10.1186/s13395-021-00284-3. # co-first authors.
  • Wiedner HJ, Giudice J*. (2021). It’s not just a phase: function and characteristics of RNA-binding proteins in phase separation. Nature Structure and Molecular Biology, 28 (6): 465-473
  • Musicant AM, Parag-Sharma K, Gong W, Sengupta M, Chatterjee A, Henry EC, Tsai Y-H, Hayward MC, Sheth S, Betancourt R, Hackman TG, Padilla RJ, Parker JS, Giudice J, Flaveny CA, Hayes DN, Amelio AL. (2021). CRTC1-MAML2 establishes a PGC1α-IGF1 circuit that confers vulnerability to PPARγ inhibition. Cell Reports. 34 (8): 108768.
  • Smith JA#, Curry EG#, Blue RE#, Roden C, Dundon SER, Rodriguez-Vargas A, Jordan DC, Chen X, Lyons SM, Crutchley J, Anderson P, Horb M, Gladfelter AS*, Giudice J*. (2020). FXR1 splicing is important for muscle development and biomolecular condensates in muscle cells. Journal of Cell Biology, 219 (4): e201911129. # co-first authors.
  • Huang, Sachdeva M, Xu E, Robinson, TJ, Luo L, Ma Y, Williams N, Lopez O, Cervia LD, Yuan F, Qin X, Zhang D, Owzar K, Gokgoz N, Seto A, Okada T, Singer S, Andrulis IL, Wunder J, Lazar AJ, Rubin BP, Pipho K, Mello SS, Giudice J, Kirsch DJ. (2020). The long non-coding RNA NEAT1 promotes sarcoma metastasis by regulating RNA splicing pathways. Molecular Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1541-7786.MCR-19-1170.
  • Black AJ, Gamarra JR, Giudice J*. (2019). More than a messenger: alternative splicing as a therapeutic target. BBA – Gene Regulatory Mechanisms, 1862 (11-12): 194395. doi: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2019.06.006.
  • Hinkle ER, Wiedner HJ#, Black AJ#, Giudice J*. (2019). RNA processing in skeletal muscle biology and disease. Transcription,10 (1): 1-20.
  • Blue RE, Koushik A, Engels N, Wiedner HJ, Cooper TA, Giudice J*. (2018). Modulation of alternative splicing of trafficking genes by genome editing reveals functional consequences in muscle biology. International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology  pii: S1357-2725(18)30227-9.
  • RE Blue, Curry EG#, Engels NM#, Lee EY and Giudice J*.  (2018). How alternative splicing affects membrane trafficking. Journal of Cell Science, 131(10): pii: jcs216465. # equally contributed.
  • Baralle FE, Giudice J*. (2017). Alternative splicing as a regulator of development and tissue identity. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 8(7): 437-451.
  • Giudice J*, Taylor JM*. (2017). Muscle as a paracrine and endocrine organ. Current Opinion in Pharmacology, 34: 49-55.
  • Giudice J*, Loehr JA, Rodney GG, Cooper TA*. (2016). Alternative splicing of four trafficking genes regulates myofiber structure and skeletal muscle physiology. Cell Reports, 17 (8): 1923-33.
  • Giudice J, Xia Z, Li W, Cooper TA. (2016). Neonatal cardiac dysfunction and transcriptome changes caused by the absence of Celf1. Scientific Reports, 6:35550. doi:10.1038/srep35550.
  • Wang ET, Ward AJ, Cherone JM, Giudice J, Wang TT, Treacy DJ, Lambert NJ, Freese P, Saxena T, Cooper TA, Burge CB. (2015). Antagonistic regulation of mRNA expression and splicing by CELF and MBNL proteins. Genome Research, 25(6): 858-71.
  • Pedrotti S, Giudice J, Dagnino-Acosta A, Knoblauch M, Mo Q, Hicks J, Hamilton S, Cooper TA. (2015). The RNA-binding protein Rbfox1 regulates adult skeletal muscle function. Human Molecular Genetics, 4 (8): 2360-74.
  • Giudice J, Xia Z, Wang ET, Ruddy MA, Ward AJ, Kalsotra A, Wang W, Wehrens XHT, Burge CB, Li W, Cooper TA. (2014). Alternative splicing regulates vesicular trafficking genes in cardiomyocytes during postnatal heart development. Nature Communications, 5: 3603. doi: 10.1038/ncomms4603.
  • Giudice J*, Cooper TA*. (2014). RNA-binding proteins in heart development. Adv Exp Med Biol, 825: 389-429.
  • Giudice J, Jares-Erijman EA, Leskow FC. (2013). Insulin receptor membrane retention by a traceable chimeric mutant. Cell Communication and Signaling, 11(1): 45. doi: 10.1186/1478-811X-11-45.
  • Giudice J, Jares-Erijman E, Leskow FC. (2013). Endocytosis and intracellular dissociation rates of human insulin-insulin receptor complexes by quantum dots in living cells. Bioconjugate Chemistry, 24(3): 431-42.
  • Giudice J, Barcos LS, Guaimas FF, Penas A, Giordano L, Jares-Erijman EA, Leskow FC. (2013). Insulin and IGF-II endocytosis and signaling via insulin receptor B. Cell Communication and Signaling, 11(1): 18. doi: 10.1186/1478-811X-11-18.

Magazine Article

  • Gentile GM, Wiedner HJ, Hinkle ER, Giudice J*. (2020). Alternative splicing provides a broad menu of proteins for cells. The Scientist, 34 (10): 38-43.

Honors and awards

  • National Science Foundation (NSF), CAREER Award, 4/2023 – 3/2025.
  • UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Medicine, Jefferson Pilot Award, 11/2020 – 10/2025
  • American Heart Association, Career Development Award, 4/2019 – 3/2022
  • NIH-NIGMS, R01 research grant, 3/2019 – 3/2024
  • March of Dimes Foundation, Basil O’Connor Starter Scholar Award, 4/2018 – 3/2020
  • NC TraCS, Pilot Grant $50K, 8/2018 – 1/2020
  • Nutrition Obesity Research Center (NORC-UNC), Pilot & Feasibility Grant, 4/2017 – 3/2018
  • The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Junior Faculty Development Award, calendar year 2017
  • American Heart Association, Postdoctoral Fellowship, 7/2014 – 2/2016
  • Pew Charitable Trusts, Postdoctoral Fellowship, 7/2012 – 2/2016
  • European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), Short Term Fellowship, 12/2008 – 2/2009
  • German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Short Term Fellowship, 11/2008 – 03/2009, kindly declined
  • National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET – Argentina), Pre-doctoral Fellowship, 4/2008 – 3/2011

Standing Member Grant Reviewer

  • NIH, MRAF study section, 9/2023 – 8/2026

Invited Ad hoc Grant Reviewer

  • National Science Foundation (NSF), 10/2023
  • NIH, ZRG1 MGG-C study section, 7/2023
  • NIH, ZRG1 MGG-C study section, 11/2022
  • National Science Foundation (NSF), 9/2021
  • Belgian Foundation against Cancer, Belgium, 9/2022
  • Alzheimer’s Research UK, United Kingdom, 3/2022
  • German-Israeli Foundation (GIF), 3/2022
  • European Research Council (ERC), 1/2022
  • NIH-NIGMS, MGA study section, 6/2021
  • Medical Research Council (MRC), United Kingdom, 12/2021
  • National Science Foundation (NSF), 8/2021
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Canada, 1/2021
  • Medical Research Council (MRC), United Kingdom, 7/2020
  • NIH-NIGMS, MGB study section, 2/2020
  • American Heart Association, Cardiac Biology BSc study section, 10/2019
  • Argentina Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation, Argentina, 2017-2018
  • German-Israeli Foundation (GIF), 2/2017

Invited Manuscript Peer Reviewer

  • American Chemical Society (ACS) Books Chapter
  • BBA Gene Regulatory Mechanisms (Elsevier)
  • BBA Molecular Basis of Disease (Elsevier)
  • Cell Reports
  • Cancer Research
  • Chemistry Teacher International (CTI)
  • Communications Biology
  • Development
  • eLife
  • EMBO Journal
  • European Journal of Medical Genetics (EJMG)
  • FASEB
  • Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
  • Genes
  • Human Genetics
  • International Journal of Biochemical and Cell Biology
  • International Journal of Cardiology
  • ISCIENCE (Cell Press)
  • Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI) insight
  • Molecular Biology of the Cell (MBoC)
  • Nature Biotechnology
  • Nature Communications
  • Nature Neuroscience
  • Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology
  • Nucleic Acid Research
  • Revista Electrónica de Enseñanza de las Ciencias
  • RNA
  • Scientific Reports
  • The International Journal of Molecular Sciences
  • Trends in Cell Biology
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