Reese Valdez
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are chemical contaminants formed by incomplete combustion processes. While there is a lot of ongoing research about the effects of a variety of PAHs in healthy individuals, there is little work done that attempts to understand how the presence of pre-existing conditions, like asthma, change the way PAHs induce toxicity. My research focuses on how the presence of asthmatic inflammation in human lung cells impacts the way cells respond to PAH exposure.
I love that I'm helping answer meaningful questions. This research allows me to answer questions that will have broader impacts in the scientific community and the real world.
I hope to help identify how more susceptible populations are actually being effected by these chemicals. A lot of science is done in ideal scenarios with healthy or normal populations, but we know that there is a large portion of the population that has a pre-existing condition that may alter the way their bodies respond to chemical exposures. I believe it's important to account for those groups when trying to understand how we respond to chemicals.
I knew in high school that I enjoyed learning about science, but it wasn't until college that I realized I truly enjoyed being a scientist and working with others to help answer questions about how the world around us impacts us.
Government and research
Outside of science, I enjoy playing music, crafting, playing video games and board games, and spending time with my friends and family.
Research Project(s):