Marisa Naujokas - Senior Science Writer

Work Experience

2003-present

Senior Science Writer, Environmental Health Consulting, Chicago, IL

Write and edit article summaries and therapy fact sheets for Healing Thresholds Web site; write health-related articles for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC); serve as lead writer for content on the U.S. EPA TEACH Web site, which conveys information about children's exposures and health effects following exposure to toxic chemicals; prepare and edit summaries of peer-reviewed articles for U.S. EPA TEACH Database; prepare and edit chemical summary documents that serve as a comprehensive information resource for multiple audiences; write training modules, training CD-ROMs and Web-based training for pharmaceutical sales representatives for drugs and for medical devices; write continuing medical education (CME) modules about drugs used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis, diabetes, and menopause

1991-1997

Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Performed laboratory research in cellular biology and immunology; research resulted in several publications including a premier scientific journal; coordinated collaborations between labs both locally and internationally; managed undergraduates and trained entering graduate students in the lab; presented work at several national and international scientific meetings

1986-1991

Graduate Student, Rush University, Chicago, IL

Performed laboratory research in immunology; served as student representative in the university community; organized graduate student journal club; presented research at several national scientific meetings

Education

1986-1991

Rush University, Chicago, IL

Ph.D. Microbiology/Immunology

1979-1983

University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

B.A. Biology; Sigma Xi Award for Excellence in Research

Postdoctoral Training

1991-1997

University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Performed research in the field of immunology and cell biology with results published in premier journals; collaborated with other labs including international collaborations leading to several publications; obtained funding through highly-competitive Arthritis Foundation Fellowship

Honors

2007 Outstanding Leader Award, Evanston Girl Scouts
1994 Arthritis Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship

Academic Affiliations/Professional Memberships/Community Works

2004-Present

Girl Scout Leader, beginning with 2nd grade Brownies and ongoing currently through 6th grade Juniors; trainer of Girl Scout leaders in Evanston VISTA; organizer of Evanston-wide Girl Scout events

1999-2000

Successfully completed several education courses at Northwestern University (Evanston, IL) and DePaul University (Chicago, IL) toward a high school teaching certificate 

1997-Present

Highly involved parent in local parent associations and in the local school community, giving frequent help in the classrooms; team leader for school fundraisers; President, Mothers of Multiples Parent Support Group

1983-Present

Member of professional organizations including American Association of Immunologists, Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society, American Association of University Women, and others 

Publications

• Naujokas MF, S Southwood, SJ Mathies, E Appella, A Sette, J Miller. 1998. T cell recognition of flanking residues of murine invariant chain-derived CLIP peptide bound to MHC class II. Cell Immunol 188(1):49-54.
• Brown DR, K Swier, NH Moskowitz, MF Naujokas, RM Locksley, SL Reiner. 1997. T helper subset differentiation in the absence of invariant chain. J Exp Med 185(1):31-41.
• Fineschi B, LS Arenson, MF Naujokas, J Miller. 1995. Proteolysis of major histocompatibility complex class II-associated invariant chain is regulated by the alternatively spliced gene product, p41. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 92(22):10257-10261.
• Naujokas MF, LS Arneson, B Fineschi, ME Peterson, S Sitterding, AT Hammond, C Reilly, D Lo, J Miller. 1995. Potent effects of low levels of MHC class II-associated invariant chain on CD4+T cell development. Immunity 3(3):359-372.
• Naujokas MF, M Morin, MS Anderson, M Peterson, J Miller. 1993. The chondroitin sulfate form of invariant chain can enhance stimulation of T cell responses through interaction with CD44. Cell 74(2):257-268.
• Naujokas MF, E Schmitt, A Finnegan. 1992. Regulation of freshly isolated, IL-4-producing T cells: IFN-gamma-sensitive and -resistant cells. Lymphokine Cytokine Res 11(3):183-191.
• Seidenfeld J, KA Komar, MF Naujokas, AL Block. 1986. Reduced cytocidal efficacy for adriamycin in cultured human carcinoma cells depleted of polyamines by difluormethylornithine treatment. Cancer Res. 46(3):1155-1159.
• Seidenfeld J, KA Komar, MF Naujokas, AL Block. 1986. Effects of DFMO-induced polyamine depletion on human tumor cells sensitivity to antineoplastic DNA-crosslinking drugs. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 17(1):16-20.
• Seidenfeld J, AL Block, KA Komar, MF Naujokas. 1986. Altered cell cycle phase distributions in cultured human carcinoma cells partially depleted of polyamines by treatment with difluoromethylornithine. 46(1):47-53.
• Prystowsky MB, G Otten, MF Naujokas, J Vardiman, JN Ihle, E Goldwasser, FW Fitch. 1984. Multiple hemopoietic lineages are found after stimulation of mouse bone marrow precursor cells with interelukin 3. Am J Pathol 117(2):171-179.
• Prystowsky MB, MF Naujokas, JN Ihle, E Goldwasser, FW Fitch. 1984. A microassay for colony-stimulating factor based on thymidine incorporation. Am J Pathol 114(1):149-156.
• Prystowsky MB, JM Ely, MF Naujokas, E Goldwasser, FW Fitch. 1983. Partial purification and characterization of a colony-stimulating factor secreted by a T lymphocyte clone. Exp Hematol 11(10):931-943.