Macarena Rojo

As a dedicated postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Environmental Sciences at Baylor University, I am passionately reaching into the biotransformation pathways of Gulf killifish exposed to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH), a key project funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). My role involves implementing my expertise in environmental sciences and toxicology to unravel the molecular mechanisms of chemical resistance and adaptation in this resilient fish species. Before joining Baylor, I successfully earned my Ph.D. in hard sciences from the Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina. During this transformative journey, I conducted groundbreaking research on the accumulation and trophic transfer of human pharmaceuticals in fish inhabiting wastewater-impacted sites in Argentina. My contributions included the development and validation of extraction methods and HPLC-MS/MS methodology, enabling the detection and quantification of antipsychotics, glucocorticoids, and other pharmaceuticals in water, fish tissue, and fish plasma. Notably, my research extended to assessing the correlation between pharmaceutical concentrations and hepatic biotransformation enzymes in fish. These findings were disseminated through impactful publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at esteemed national and international conferences. Beyond my research pursuits, I have actively engaged in academia, serving as a graduate teaching assistant and as an assistant professor at two universities. My commitment to the scholarly community is further demonstrated through my role as a reviewer for the journal Environmental Science & Technology Letters, American Chemist Society (ACS), where I contribute to shaping the discourse in the field. Driven by a profound commitment to advancing environmental science and health, I aspire to apply my expertise in environmental chemistry and toxicology to comprehensively understand and mitigate the effects of organic contaminants on aquatic ecosystems and human health. I thrive on the challenges and opportunities presented by interdisciplinary and collaborative research, always eager to incorporate new methods and technologies in this ever-evolving field.

• Water
• Environmental Monitoring
• Environmental Chemistry
• New Approach Methodologies
• POPs and PBTs
• Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products
• Adverse Outcome Pathways