Veteran Ecotoxicologist Named First WLW-ECOS Professor-in-Residence

The Charles E. Schmidt College is pleased to welcome its inaugural WLW-School of Environmental, Coastal and Ocean Sustainability (ECOS) Professor in Residence, Gabriela Rodríguez-Fuentes, Ph.D., from the Unidad de Química en Sisal, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), located on the Yucatan in southeastern Mexico. The position was made possible as part of a generous gift from Wayne and Lucretia Weiner, known as the WLW-ECOS Fund, that the couple established in 2024 to create opportunities for students who are dedicated to creating solutions for a more sustainable future. Rodríguez-Fuentes will begin her six-month residency in August.

“I am excited to be named the first WLW-ECOS professor in residence,” expressed Rodríguez-Fuentes. “It is an honor to start this program, which I believe will greatly benefit ECOS, Florida Atlantic and UNAM, where I am a full-time professor in the School of Chemistry.”

Rodríguez-Fuentes is an ecotoxicologist—a scientist who researches the effects of toxic substances on the environment—who studies stress caused by various factors, including chemical, physical and biological stressors. She has over 20 years of experience working with different biomarkers on the exposure and effects in aquatic organisms for environmental monitoring, along with over 15 years of research into oxidative stress responses, primarily in marine organisms.

During her residency, Rodríguez-Fuentes will hold workshops to educate students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty about the background and techniques to better study oxidative stress. She also intends to teach introductory statistics workshops, give talks to the university community, and guest lecture in college courses.

“I look forward to meeting many interesting colleagues and students,” shared Rodríguez-Fuentes. “I am confident that I will find numerous projects where I can apply my expertise and learn about various topics that might foster long-term research collaborations between the Yucatan and Florida, regions we share many similarities with.”

Since her undergraduate studies, Rodríguez-Fuentes has been deeply concerned about the effects of pollutants on organisms. Since then, she has worked with many organisms, from bacteria to plants, initially focusing on the effects of chemicals, and eventually expanding to the study of multiple stressors. Rodríguez-Fuentes has been a full-time professor at UNAM in Sisal since 2011. In addition, she also previously served as the chair at the Unit of Chemistry in Sisal for the past 11 years.

“We live in a world where pollution and its effects on ecosystems are daily concerns,” stated Rodríguez-Fuentes. “It is essential that we understand the risks these stressors pose so we can make informed decisions to reduce their impact and help communities adapt.”

The WLW-ECOS professor-in-residence position marks the first half of Rodríguez-Fuentes’ sabbatical year. When it concludes, she plans to visit other universities in the Yucatan Peninsula to strengthen the bonds between faculty and students, with the aim of enhancing future collaborations.

ECOS was established in 2023 by Valery Forbes, Ph.D., dean of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, as a partnership with Florida Atlantic’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. Comprised of a broad array of disciplines and units, ECOS aims to integrate Florida Atlantic University’s environmental research, teaching and community engagement to create a comprehensive environmental hub at the university, as well as bolster the visibility and impact of environmental programs across Florida Atlantic.

Those interested in applying to serve as future WLW-ECOS professor-in-residence can learn more here.