Jessica Esseltine is an Assistant Professor of Cancer and Development in the Division of BioMedical Sciences at Memorial University of Newfoundland. With a Ph.D. from the University of Western Ontario, her research focuses on investigating cellular communication in pluripotent and adult stem cells. Specifically, she explores the role of connexins and pannexins in facilitating gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and paracrine signaling, which are crucial for normal embryonic development and can be perturbed in disease states. Dr. Esseltine's laboratory utilizes cutting-edge techniques such as CRISPR-Cas9 genetic engineering, high-resolution imaging, and stem cell and 3D organoid culture to address central research questions related to pluripotency, cell fate decisions, and the regulation of adult stem cell behavior. Her work aims to unravel the intricate mechanisms underlying cellular communication in stem cells and its implications for various physiological processes, including proliferation, differentiation, and self-renewal.