Pharmacology and Toxicology - Students
Rene Vinas, B.S., M.S.
Program: Ph.D.
Advisor: Cheryl Watson, Ph.D.
Mr. Viņas received his M.S. in Environmental Toxicology from Texas Tech University during which time he received the Colgate-Palmolive/Society of Toxicology joint Award for Student Research Training in Alternative Methods (2007) and the Syngenta Crop Protection Inc. Outstanding Student Award. Mr. Viņas's Ph.D. dissertation is focused on characterizing chemical mixtures of xenoestrogens (i.e. BPA and alkylphenols) and their effects on cell signaling pathways via membrane bound estrogen receptor (mER) subtypes in GH3/B6/F10 rat prolactinoma cell line. Information gained from these investigations will aid in providing a better understanding of risk assessment modeling for complex chemical mixtures. Portions of his dissertation research have been presented at the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry's (SETAC) annual meeting (2011) and have recently allowed him to receive for a second time, the CP/SOT Award for Student Research Training in Alternative Methods (2012) to enhance his graduate research.
As an active member of the UTMB student community Mr. Viņas is current president of the Pharm/Tox Student Organization, a student mentor for first year graduate students entering the program, and an eco-toxicology lecturer for the undergraduate toxicology course at Texas A&M-Galveston. Mr. Viņas is also an active member of the Society of Toxicology (SOT), Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC), and Society of American College of Toxicology (ACT).
Email: revinas@utmb.edu
