Miriam Huerta

 

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

gh437@cornell.edu

LinkedIn

 

 

Professional Background

I am a Chemist Pharmaceutical Biologist from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). I got the Ph.D. in Genetics and Molecular Biology from the Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav, Mexico City, Mexico) studying the gene regulation of the tight junction proteins in mammalian cells. To find new ways to analyze tight junction functions, I joined to the multidisciplinary group of Dr. Roisin Owens (Centre of Microelectronics of Provence, Gardanne, France), as a postdoctoral researcher, where I focused on developing cellular models for different applications using OECTs, for instance, a 3D cell culture model to determine the tight junction function in drug toxicity testing at early times. I also was part of the Esther Orozco’s group (Department of Infectomics and Molecular Pathogenesis, Cinvestav), where I described a new transcription factor involved in the virulence of the parasite Entamoeba histolytica.

Because I have learned the best way to go deep in the knowledge is combining more than one discipline, I came back to the bioelectronics field. This time, I joined to Eleni Stravinidou team, in the Laboratory of Organic Electronics at Linköping University, Sweden, where I used organic electrochemical devices to apply different stimuli over the plants, record their cellular responses and analyze some biomarkers to improve their growth and providing new tools for plant physiology studies.

 

Research

In plants, there are a lot of mechanisms that depend on the transport of molecules across the membrane. Unfortunately, there is not the technology to study these phenomena. My main goal is developing a plant membrane sensor to study molecular transport in plants.

 

Professional Development

I am a mentor at the US-Mexico Leaders Network association to support and encourage young Mexican women to pursue a career in STEM. Moreover, I give scientific outreach talks to children.

 

Fun Facts

I love music and dance. I am an opera fan and sometimes I plan my holidays based on opera season, the MET is my next target. Moreover, I would like to learn how to dance to country music.