This week's spotlight is Alisha Janiga-MacNelly, an environmental science graduate researcher in the Lavado lab!
What interested you to pursue a career in STEM?
When I was in high school, I was presented the opportunity to attend the Mathematics and Science Academy, a hybrid school where high school students can finish their junior and senior courses in university classes and earn both high school and college credits. During this time, I took introductory chemistry with Dr. Flores-Feist, a strong female Hispanic chemist. She is a role model who showed me through discipline and patience that women can be successful in hard sciences. Growing up in the Rio Grande Valley also influenced my decision to study environmental science and water quality. This region is ecologically significant to both local and immigrating species, and due to the increasing industrialization, consequences of human activity are pertinent.
How would you describe your work to the public?
I am currently working on two projects. The first focuses on wastewater systems to better understand the changes in specific proteins and sugars in activated sludge due to seasonal changes and with microplastic particles. Currently it is well known that activated sludge produces extracellular polymeric substances that influence settling, flocculation, and dewatering processes. While polysaccharide and protein content has been quantified in numerous situations, identification of distinct polymers is less common. I hope to overcome this gap using HPLC and SDS-PAGE paired with LC-MS. The second project focuses on the impact microplastics have on human cells. So far, five cell lines (Hepa-RG (liver), Caco-2 (intestine), HEK001 (skin), HMEC-1 (endothelial), and HMC-3 (microglia)), have been tested for cytotoxicity. HMEC-1 was the most responsive to cytotoxicity assays. Further testing via the comet assay has confirmed that microplastic particles lead to DNA damage in HMEC-1 cells. Other planned experiments include testing for ROS presence, endocrine disruption in breast cells, and changes in gene expression.
Outside of the lab, what do you enjoy doing?
When I am not working in the lab I enjoy cooking and meal prepping. Being from South Texas, I have a strong background in Hispanic foods, but I have been branching out and experimenting with Asian flavors and styles. Additionally, I like swimming laps when the temperature is in the triple digits and jogging in the temperate Fall and Winter. If I am really trying to practice self-care, I'll grab a Stephen King novel and read by the lake. Is there something during your research career that you have really enjoyed or want to share?
I always knew this going in, but going through the experience personally has really been a period of growth. In the movies and series, they make it seem like science is linear, rapid, and error free. The truth of the matter is that everyone makes mistakes, everyone's path to success is different, and that's okay. There have been times where pursing this dream has been a struggle and others that have been uplifting. Using these experiences to develop into a strong, independent, intelligent woman has been very rewarding.
If you can give a piece of advice to the younger generation, what would it be?
Don't get bogged down by fear. Life is unpredictable, and that can be a scary thing. But at the end of the day, sometimes we have to put our big girl pants on, be brave, and embrace the uncomfortable. While a given situation may insight dismay, often times the consequences of doing nothing are greater than standing up.
Is there a female scientist that particularly inspires you?
Dr. Kristine Lowe was my mentor during my masters program. She was a microbial ecologist at UTRGV and had important roles in Provost and Biology departments. She made it a point to have strong relationships with her students and colleagues as well as a refined ability to both listen and provide effective feedback. In addition to being a passionate, patient, and informed scientist, she gave back to the community by teaching "grocery story experiments" to local primary and secondary educators.
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