The pursuit of new knowledge and breaking new frontiers is fundamental to scientific progress. We are thrilled to celebrate a significant accomplishment from within our team. Our newsletter editor, Jessica Rodriquez, has recently achieved a new milestone that truly exemplifies the spirit of scientific endeavor.
You can read more about this exciting news below.
The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) One Health (OH) team is delighted to announce that Jessica Rodriguez, our OH Newsletter Editor, will earn her doctoral degree in Epidemiology, with a minor in Biostatistics and a certificate in Genomics and Bioinformatics, in May 2026. Jessica recently defended her dissertation, entitled “The Impact of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection on Markers of Biological Aging Among Mexicans,” under the mentorship of her academic advisor, Dr. Miryoung Lee, at the University of Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health in Brownsville, Texas.
Throughout her doctoral studies, Jessica demonstrated remarkable determination and resilience while balancing a rigorous academic workload, full-time employment as a Research Associate II at UTMB, and her role as Newsletter Editor. Her achievement is a testament not only to her intellectual curiosity and drive, but also to her passion for advancing public health and scientific communication. Her success brings pride to our community and serves as an inspiration to others pursuing careers in science and public health.
Jessica began her academic journey at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where she earned both a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature in 2016. She continued her education at the University of Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health in Brownsville, earning a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology, with a minor in Biostatistics, in 2018 before transitioning into her doctoral studies. Over the nine years of her academic training, she also worked as a Laboratory Research Assistant at the Hispanic Health Research Center, where she contributed to research involving the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort and supported the development of a CLIA high-complexity diagnostic laboratory and a local wastewater surveillance program during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2024, Jessica transitioned to a Research Associate position in the One Health (OH) Laboratory at the UTMB, where she conducted field and laboratory research to identify novel zoonotic respiratory diseases under the mentorship of Dr. Gregory Gray. Shortly thereafter, she became the editor of the UTMB’s OH Newsletter, publishing 14 issues during her tenure.
Building on her recent academic achievements, Dr. Rodriguez has accepted a Lead Wastewater Epidemiologist position with Harris County Public Health in Houston, Texas. In this new role, she will leverage her experience in wastewater surveillance and infectious disease detection. This milestone represents a significant professional and personal achievement. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Rodriguez on this outstanding accomplishment and wishing her continued success as she begins this exciting new chapter in her career. We look forward to witnessing her future contributions to the dynamic and ever-evolving field of global health.