Joseph Oleniczak
Teaching Experience
EDUCATION
2006-2008 Fordham University, New York, NY
M.S. Biology
1999-2003 University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
B.S. Biology
Uteach Program Graduate
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2011-Present Adjunct Professor Biotechnology, Austin Community College Austin, TX
This appointment is in conjunction with my appointment at the Austin Independent School District Liberal Arts and Science Academy High School. Teach Dual Credit/Enrollment High School/Community College Biotechnology and Research Internship courses
2008-Present Biotechnology and Research Internship Instructor, Liberal Arts and Science Academy High School Austin, TX
Teach Dual Credit courses in Biotechnology and Research Internship. Develop innovative inquiry-based curricula for courses. Serve on school Campus Advisory Council and lead Science Teacher Mentor Program.
2015-Present Research Scientist, Fabrico Technology Inc. Austin, TX
Contract research scientist for this small biotech company.
2006-2008 Teaching Assistant and Laboratory Instructor, Fordham University, New York, NY
Taught as a laboratory instructor for undergraduate courses in genetics, general biology, and human anatomy. Wrote and delivered lectures based on laboratory topics, prepared necessary materials for use in laboratory experiments, and developed appropriate assignments and exams based on course material.
2003-2006 High School Science Instructor, The Gateway School for Environmental Research and Technology, Bronx, NY
Instructor of high school level courses in biotechnology, biology, and earth science. Developed curricula for those courses that met New York State standards through lecture and laboratory exercises. Served on the school-based leadership team which made decisions that guided the educational philosophies of the school as well as maintained the school’s budget.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVIES and AWARDS
2021-current: Dual Credit High School Community College DNA Sequencing and Genomics Project. I am the Principal Investigator (PI) for National Science Foundation Advance Technological Education (NSF-ATE) Grant. As the PI for this NSF-ATE Grant Project Award #2055607 I am establishing a first of its kind DNA sequencing and genomics facility on a high school campus. The facility is located on my Austin Independent School District Liberal Arts and Science Academy High School Campus and run by my dual credit high school students. This Project will provide research-based, hands-on, and real-world workforce experience for my dual credit high school biotechnology students by providing access to industry-level DNA sequencing technology.
2023: Ernest and Sarah Butler Grand Prize Award for Excellence in Science Teaching, Texas Medical Association. This award is given to teachers that share their energy and enthusiasm for science with their students every day, thereby sparking students' interest in science.
2022: Educator of Distinction, Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. This award was given to me by a former my biotechnology student that was named a 2022 Coca-Cola scholar and selected me to receive this award as a teacher that influenced their interest in pursuing STEM as a career.
2021-Teaching Excellence Award, Phi Beta Kappa Alumni Association of Greater Austin, I received this award in recognition of my teaching and commitment to my career as someone who exemplifies the Phi Beta Kappa motto Love of Learning is the guide of life.
2020: RAPID: Development of Rapid Point of Care SARS-CoV-2 Detection System. As a co-Principal Investigator for this National Science Foundation-Molecular and Cellular Bioscience Project (NSF-MCB award #2027169), I worked on developing a SARS-CoV-2 assay detection system using multiplex loop-mediated isothermal amplification integrated with a sequence-parsing probe system designed with principles of oligonucleotide strand displacement. The assays and detection system developed by this project were used for COVID-19 testing on the University of Texas at Austin campus.
2018-2019: Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching Grant, U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Institute of International Education. Selected as a teacher fellow to travel to Finland during the Spring 2019 semester to research the framework of biotechnology career pathways from secondary education to the workplace in Finland with an emphasis on understanding why Finland is so successful in the recruitment, retention, and teaching of female students in secondary technical education programs.
2018 Mindfulness in Schools. Teacher participant in AISD program focused on bringing mindfulness techniques into the classroom. Ongoing communication between members of the community sharing best practices and research promoting student wellbeing through mindfulness.
2017 Leadership Pathways Transformative Technology. Participant in yearlong AISD district-level initiative to integrate new technologies into the classroom with a focus on student voice and choice. As a cohort member, designed novel hybrid units and lessons that blend traditional classroom and online activities.
2014-2016: Articulated Technological Education Pathways (ATEP) project (National Science Foundation, NSF DUE award #1104253). Curriculum specialist that reviewed and wrote curriculum for the biotechnology portion of the project. This project was aimed at developing semester-long courses for high school students that provide a bridge from high school technical programs to community college programs in technician education.
2015 University of Texas UTeach Mentor Teacher. As a cooperating teaching, mentored and supported an apprentice teacher during his semester-long student teaching. Helped develop lessons and provided feedback and support throughout the process.
2012-2015: Stem Cell Pipeline Program (NSF DUE #1003852). Curriculum specialist that wrote a Stem Cell and Cell Culturing iBook Lab Manual for high school students. Developed innovative cell culturing techniques for the high school students and piloted these cell culture techniques in my high school classroom.
2011: Junior League of Austin Excellence in Innovative Classroom Teaching Award. As a recipient of this award, received a grant to implement an innovative teaching unit I developed titled: “Fingerprinting Your Own DNA Using Molecular Biology Techniques.”
2010-2011: GK-12 Teacher Fellow Program, Environment Science Institute at the University of Texas, Austin, TX (NSF DGE award # 0139347) As a participating teacher in this program I collaborated with a graduate student from the University of Texas at Austin for the purpose of developing science lessons that incorporated the graduate student’s research into my high school classroom.
2005: Hunter College Biotechnology Program for High School Science Teachers, Hunter College New York, NY. Teacher participant in six-week training program supported by a Howard Hughes Medical Institute-USE grant that emphasized incorporating biotechnology techniques in high school science curriculum. Received a grant funds to purchase equipment to implement program in my classroom.
CERTIFICATION
Secondary Science Composite Grades (6-12), Classroom Teacher, Texas Education Agency, State Board of Educator Certification, initial certificate issued 2003
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS
National Association of Biology Teachers, Member (2008-Present)
National Science Teacher Association (2014-Present)
InnovATEBIO-National Biotechnology Education Center-member (2018-present)
Professional Publications
PRESENTATIONS
“Exploring Biotechnology Career Pathways from Secondary Education to the Workplace in Finland”, Joseph Oleniczak, Fulbright Forum: Education, Innovation, Science, and Art, University of Helsinki, March 16-17, 2019.
Chin RC, Oleniczak J, Cox, CS Jr., Cao Q-L, Caplan HW, Prabhakara KS, Olson SD. Injectable Bio-compatible gel composed of iPSC derived NSC for regeneration of brain tissue. Poster presented at: 2019 Military Health System Research Symposium (MHSRS);Tech Area: Cellular Therapeutics for Treatment of Trauma-Related: MHSRS-19-01328 , Poster Session 2- #290; August 19-22, 2019; Kissimmee FL.
“Immediate Application Cranioplasty During Decompressive Craniectomy for Heady Injuries”, Fabrico Technology; Robert C. Chin, Joseph Oleniczak, US Army Medical Research and Material Command, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, Combat Casualty Care Research Program (CCCR), Neurotrauma Research Portfolio in Progress Review, Bldg 1076, Ft Detrick, MD, June 6, 2017.
“Student Pathways from High School Biotech Programs to Community Colleges”. Joseph Oleniczak, Linnea Fletcher, High Impact Technology Exchange Conference, Portland Oregon, July 2015.
PATENTS
Kashkin, A, Oleniczak J., Chin RC, inventors; Fabrico Technology, assignee, Systems and Methods for Measuring Colorimetric Reactions for making same, US 2022/0362767 A1, November 17, 2022.
Kashkin, A, Oleniczak J., Chin RC, inventors; Fabrico Technology, assignee, Analytical Test Cartridge, US D963,193 S, September 6, 2022.
Chin RC, Oleniczak J., inventors; Fabrico Technology, assignee, Decellularized and Demineralized Bone Matrices and Methods for making same, US 2022/0008617 A1, January 13, 2022.
Published: May 13, 2025