Get to Know DoR: Jordan Merritt, Ph.D.

Jordan Merritt, Ph.D. is the Special Projects Manager III in the NSU Division of Research & Economic Development (DoR).

 

What role do you play at NSU?

I have been tasked with helping to manage DoR projects of various sizes and efforts ranging from a complementary faculty/staff picture event to future strategic planning and initiatives toward research preeminence.

 

What was your journey that brought you to NSU?

As an undergraduate student at the University of Central Florida (UCF), I had to work three jobs to support my education and didn’t have time to conduct research. However, I would read the scientific research posters on each wall of the biology building and dream of the day that I would have the time to contribute knowledge to the scientific community.

As a graduate student at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), I was finally able to dive headfirst into research. While pursuing a Ph.D. in Biomedical Science with a graduate certificate in Neuroscience, my dissertation research concentrated on determining the outcomes of immune cell interactions with malaria-infected red blood cells in hopes of determining viable vaccine targets. Efforts toward quantifying the binding kinetics of immune cells and malaria-infected red blood cells through specific cell surface receptors led to a collaboration with scientists at several institutes including NIH, Brown, Harvard, and Yale, which resulted in a publication in Nature titled, “Anti-PfGARP activates programmed cell death of parasites and reduces severe malaria”.

Interestingly, while mentoring students in the laboratory, I determined that I could have the greatest impact on the scientific community by mentoring and getting others involved in research, instead of acting as a single researcher in a lab. At that point, I decided to pursue a career in research administration to help increase student opportunities and involvement in research.

Before joining NSU, I have worked as a NSF program coordinator at the FAU Office of Undergraduate Research & Inquiry, FAU affiliate faculty, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience visiting instructor, and an Assistant Director of Partnership Programs at FAU. I am excited to bring my extensive experience in organizational and programmatic research management to my new role as Special Projects Manager III at NSU.

 

What do you enjoy outside your work at NSU?

I am married with a two-year-old son, a dog (named Cat), and two cats. I greatly enjoy being busy with all the family stuff like soccer practices, exploring local parks, volunteering in the community, birthday parties, family get-togethers, etc. However, when I do have time to myself, I love some brunch, playing basketball, and staying up to date on world news.