Ellen Jorgensen

Ellen Jorgensen graduated from New York University (NYU) in 1977 with a B.A. in Biology. She then went on to earn both her MA and MPhil in Biological Sciences from Columbia University in 1979 and 1981, respectively. Jorgensen returned to NYU where she obtained her Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology in 1987 from the Sackler Institute. She later went to SUNY Downstate as a post-doc to continue research in protein structure and function. Jorgensen devoted many years of her career to various positions at both nonprofit and for-profit companies within the biotechnology sector. where she developed innovative programming such as the Biorocket internships for underserved New York City high school students and classes in genetic engineering for the general public. Under her leadership Genspace provided low-cost lab space for biotech entrepreneurs. Opentrons and Curieco both used the Genspace pre-incubator space to launch successful companies. In 2017, Jorgensen founded Biotech Without Borders, a second nonprofit community biotechnology lab where she continues to serve on the board of directors. In March 2017, Ellen Jorgensen stepped down from her role as executive director to found Biotech Without Borders and was replaced by Genspace co-founder, Daniel Grushkin. Jorgensen became president emeritus. Different membership tiers are offered providing access to events, classes, lab access, participation to community projects, and more. In the spring of 2018, community projects will be offered in the fields of mycoremediation, open plant collaboration, and optogenetics. Accolades • World's Top 10 Innovative Companies in Education (Fast Company, 2014) • Maker Space of the Year (Brooklyn Innovation Awards, 2016 & 2017) == Biotech Without Borders ==

In 2017, Ellen Jorgensen stepped down from her leadership role at Genspace in order to found Biotech Without Borders, where she now acts as President. Biotech Without Borders focuses on providing a Biosafety Level 2 lab space, distributing biotech resources to labs worldwide, and engaging the public through hands-on lab classes, workshops, and events. It is the first Biosafety Level 2 lab open for public projects. Compared to Genspace, Biotech Without Borders seeks to facilitate engagement with more authentic high-level science. == Selected publications ==

• Albino, Anthony; Huang, Xuan; Jorgensen, Ellen; Gietl, Diana; Traganos, Frank; Darzynkiewicz, Zbigniew (2006-07-01). "Induction of DNA double-strand breaks in A549 and normal human pulmonary epithelial cells by cigarette smoke is mediated by free radicals". International Journal of Oncology. 28: 1491–505. doi:10.3892/ijo.28.6.1491. • Albino, Anthony; Huang, X; Jorgensen, Ellen; Yang, J; Gietl, D; Traganos, F; Darzynkiewicz, Zbigniew (2004-09-01). "Induction of H2AX Phosphorylation in Pulmonary Cells by Tobacco Smoke: A New Assay for Carcinogens". Cell Cycle. 3: 1062–8. doi:10.4161/cc.3.8.988. • Albino, Anthony; Jorgensen, Ellen; Rainey, Patrick; Gillman, Ivan; Jeffrey Clark, T; Gietl, Diana; Zhao, Hong; Traganos, Frank; Darzynkiewicz, Zbigniew (2009-08-01). "gammaH2AX: A potential DNA damage response biomarker for assessing toxicological risk of tobacco products". Mutation research. 678: 43–52. doi:10.1016/j.mrgentox.2009.06.009. • F. Klement, John; B Moorefield, M; Jorgensen, Ellen; E. Brown, Jeanne; Risman, Steven; T. McAllister, William (1990-10-01). "Discrimination between bacteriophage T3 and T7 promoters by the T3 and T7 RNA polymerases depends primarily upon a three base-pair region located 10 to 12 base-pairs upstream from the start site". Journal of molecular biology. 215: 21–9. doi:10.1016/S0022-2836(05)80091-9. • Jorgensen, Ellen; Bhagwat, Dileep (1998-06-01). "Development of dissolution tests for oral extended-release products". Pharmaceutical Science & Technology Today. 1: 128–135. doi:10.1016/S1461-5347(98)00029-7. • Jorgensen, Ellen (1985-09-01). "Partial nucleotide sequence op newcastle disease virus HN gene". Virus Research - VIRUS RES. 3. doi:10.1016/0168-1702(85)90360-0. • Jorgensen, Ellen; Dozmorov, Igor; B Frank, Mark; Centola, Michael; Albino, Anthony (2004-10-01). "Global Gene Expression Analysis of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells Treated with Tobacco Condensates". Cell Cycle. 3: 1154–68. doi:10.4161/cc.3.9.1078. • Jorgensen, Ellen; Grushkin, Daniel (2011-04-01). "Engage with, don't fear, community labs". Nature medicine. 17: 411. doi:10.1038/nm0411-411. • Jorgensen, Ellen; L. Collins, Peter; T. Lomedico, Peter (1987-02-01). "Cloning and nucleotide sequence of newcastle disease virus hemagglutinin-neuraminidase mRNA: Identification of a putative sialic acid binding site". Virology. 156: 12–24. doi:10.1016/0042-6822(87)90431-4. • Jorgensen, Ellen; Stinson, Andy; Shan, Lin; Yang, Jin; Gietl, Diana; Albino, Anthony (2008-02-01). "Cigarette smoke induces endoplasmic reticulum stress and the unfolded protein response in normal and malignant human lung cells". BMC cancer. 8: 229. doi:10.1186/1471-2407-8-229. • Jorgensen, Ellen; Zhao, Hong; Traganos, Frank; Albino, Anthony; Darzynkiewicz, Zbigniew (2010-06-01). "DNA damage response induced by exposure of human lung adenocarcinoma cells to smoke from tobacco- and nicotine-free cigarettes". Cell Cycle. 9: 2170–6. doi:10.4161/cc.9.11.11842. • Schäffner, Anton; Jorgensen, Ellen; T. McAllister, William; R. Hartmann, Guido (1987-12-01). "Specific labelling of the active site of T7 RNA polymerase". Nucleic Acids Research. 15: 8773–81. doi:10.1093/nar/15.21.8773. • Tanaka, Toshiki; Huang, Xuan; Jorgensen, Ellen; Gietl, Diana; Traganos, Frank; Darzynkiewicz, Zbigniew; Albino, Anthony (2007-02-01). "ATM activation accompanies histone H2AX phosphorylation in A549 cells upon exposure to tobacco smoke". BMC cell biology. 8: 26. doi:10.1186/1471-2121-8-26. • Zhao, Hong; Albino, Anthony; Jorgensen, Ellen; Traganos, Frank; Darzynkiewicz, Zbigniew (2009-10-01). "DNA Damage Response Induced by Tobacco Smoke in Normal Human Bronchial Epithelial and A549 Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma Cells Assessed by Laser Scanning Cytometry". Cytometry. Part A : the journal of the International Society for Analytical Cytology. 75: 840–7. doi:10.1002/cyto.a.20778. • Zhao, Hong; Yang, Jin; Shan, Lin; Jorgensen, Ellen (2011-12-31). "Measuring the Impact of Cigarette Smoke on the UPR". Methods in enzymology. 489: 147–64. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-385116-1.00009-1. ==References==