New Mexico State University (NMSU) has announced that Jessica Perea Houston, a professor in chemical and materials engineering, is set to embark on her second Fulbright Faculty Fellowship. This prestigious fellowship will take place in São Paulo, Brazil, where she will participate in collaborative biomedical research projects.
According to a press release by NMSU, Houston's contribution to the research could have significant implications for the diagnosis of cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. She will be collaborating with Henning Ulrich, a biochemistry and neuroscience professor within the IQ-USP biochemistry department. The department focuses on diverse studies of biologically relevant diseases including cancer, diabetes, obesity, and tropical parasites.
Houston said in the press release from NMSU: "My chemical engineering research interests align with these general subjects in many ways. That is, my laboratory focuses on the development of new flow cytometry approaches that enhance how cells are sorted, screened and characterized. Our technologies introduce a means for detecting the fluorescence lifetime from cells, which is a photophysical trait that can be used to report intracellular changes."
She further added: "I am excited to develop these relationships in order to conduct team-based work within basic science and engineering departments. I look forward to seeking out all community members who find interest in collaborative engineering projects that bridge fundamental sciences with human health and enabling diagnostic technologies."
Lakshmi Reddi, Dean of the College of Engineering at NMSU also praised Houston's work. According to another press release by NMSU he stated: "Dr. Houston is a highly respected contributor to the field of cytometry. She established her value as a faculty member early on and is one of our strongest faculty members. She has devoted her career to the field of cytometry and its applications in healthcare and along the way has inspired many students and colleagues to follow suit."
As an institution, NMSU prides itself on being a research-focused land-grant university that emphasizes teaching, research, and public service. It is recognized as a NASA Space-Grant College and houses New Mexico's first Honors College, according to the About webpage provided by NMSU.