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Tell us about your research project and why it is important to you?
My doctoral research focuses on the use of advanced remote sensing techniques. It combines satellite data with ground-based information to address critical environmental problems, especially related to air quality after emissions events, both natural and anthropogenic. These events include forest fires, dust storms and pollution generated by human activities. My main objective is to analyze how specific pollutants, such as fine inhalable particulate matter (PM2.5), and tropospheric ozone precursors, such as formaldehyde (HCHO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), directly affect human health.
In my project, I explore the intersection between geoscience and public health by incorporating key variables such as asthma, mortality and morbidity rates, respiratory diseases, and even mental health impacts. Central to my research is environmental justice: how certain communities are disproportionately affected by these pollutants due to factors such as income level, race, access to medical services or health coverage. I am also developing predictive models with machine learning techniques to anticipate these impacts more effectively.
I am currently involved in several projects. At the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), I am developing a project entitled “Assessing Air Quality and Environmental Justice with Satellite Data: Monitoring PM2.5, NO₂ and HCHO Exposure, Social Vulnerability, and the Current Influence of Redlining in Bexar County.” We are analyzing pollutant exposure and its relation to social and health vulnerability based on factors such as asthma prevalence, race, and income to understand how the legacy of historically unfair policies, such as redlining, continues to influence current conditions in San Antonio and Bexar County.
At the same time, I am an Assistant Research Leader on a project at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies under The Climate Change Research Initiative (CCRI) program. The project centers on surface temperature, air quality and geo-health in New York City to determine how urban heat islands, combined with air pollution, affect the health of communities.
For me, this research is deeply meaningful because I firmly believe that, as a species, it is our responsibility to remedy the damage we have caused to our planet and to actively contribute to mitigating climate change. This must begin with changes in our personal behavior and with actions aimed at raising awareness and information in our communities about climate change. I believe that the best way to address this challenge in an informed and appropriate manner is through knowledge and science. In addition, I am passionate about the potential of my work to influence public policy, help vulnerable communities, and make environmental justice a real and visible priority, helping to ensure that the most vulnerable communities receive priority and equitable attention.
Have you presented or published your research anywhere? Tell us about the experience.
Yes, I have presented twice in the geo-health section of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) conference. The first time was at AGU 2023 in San Francisco, CA, where I presented a scientific poster on a project I conducted during my participation in the NASA DEVELOP program at NASA Langley (Virginia). The project, entitled “Using Satellite Observations and Demographic Data to Understand Air Pollution Vulnerability in Northern Utah,” focused on creating vulnerability maps to analyze the relationship between the drying of the Great Salt Lake, increased atmospheric dust, and its impact on surrounding communities. In addition to the participation at AGU, I presented this work at the NASA Langley Center to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Utah, and in poster format at NASA's Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team (HAQAST) conference in Salt Lake City. The technical paper was published in the NASA Technical Report Server (NTRS) with the title “Health and Air Quality in the Great Salt Lake: Monitoring Lakebed Exposure and Its Impact on Air Quality and Environmental Risks in the Great Salt Lake Basin”.
The second presentation was at AGU 2024 in Washington, D.C., where I presented the progress of my research on air quality and environmental justice in San Antonio. This experience was particularly enriching; I was present throughout my session and many people showed interest in my poster and came over to ask questions, which was very motivating. In addition, I was able to connect with other speakers, attend fascinating presentations, and network with researchers from different parts of the world who are doing amazing work.
What would you say is something interesting about your area of study that most people don't know?
Something that few people are aware of is the vast number of opportunities that exist in the field of environmental science and engineering, especially when it comes to applied research. Many people don't know that NASA offers free and open access to a huge amount of satellite data, as well as high-quality training that is available at no cost. In addition, it is really satisfying to see how your research can have a real and positive impact on people's lives, helping to improve air quality, public health and environmental equity. Being able to contribute, from science, to creating more just and healthy communities is deeply meaningful.
Tell us about your academic or professional collaborations with Mexico.
I have had the honor of collaborating on several occasions with my alma mater, the School of Earth Sciences of the UANL, Linares campus. I have been invited to give motivational talks, as a distinguished alumna, with the objective of inspiring students through my academic and professional trajectory. These participations have included events such as International Women's Day and the Internationalization Fair, where they shared video clips about the experiences abroad of alumni.
In addition, I have a technical presentation pending that I would like to give soon, and I am open to further collaboration. In fact, one of my short-term plans is to offer an introductory remote sensing workshop for undergraduate and master's degree students with the objective of sharing tools that will help them visualize their academic and professional potential from early stages.
What attracted you to Texas and The University of Texas at San Antonio?
What captivated me most about UTSA and Texas was its diversity, as well as an exceptional combination of academic excellence and access to state-of-the-art resources. The educational approach, based on professors with outstanding track records, deeply inspired me. In addition, the possibility of doing internships at renowned institutions, such as NASA, was a deciding factor. In researching NASA, I discovered that UTSA actively participates in several interdisciplinary programs, including the NASA MIRO Center for Advanced Measurements in Extreme Environments (CAMEE), established in 2019, and the global air quality program, Pandora. These are unique experiences for students interested in advanced research.
What have been some good things you didn't expect from Texas or UTSA?
One of the most pleasant surprises I had when I arrived in Texas and UTSA was the human quality of the faculty; accessible and enthusiastic teachers, always willing to share their experience and knowledge. In addition, the abundance of resources available to students impressed me, an excellent library system, transportation, state-of-the-art laboratories, recreation and fitness areas. I also discovered strong support for holistic (physical/mental) wellness. UTSA offers very comprehensive mental health services, such as free one-on-one psychological counseling (which as a PhD student is much needed!), support groups, and stress management and mindfulness workshops. At UTSA I found a community of committed faculty, an infrastructure that makes you feel like there are always tools within reach and, perhaps most valuable, an emotional support system that truly cares about our physical and mental well-being.
What have been the biggest challenges of studying at UTSA and living in the United States?
Without a doubt, the biggest challenges have been adapting to the academic rigor and overcoming the language barrier. Although I have a good level of English, I express myself more naturally in my native language. Therefore, I work daily on perfecting my skills to present my research results and write articles in English with the same fluency and precision as I do in Spanish. All this requires discipline, but it has allowed me to grow in many ways.
How has the support of ConTex and Secihti impacted you?
The support of ConTex and Secihti has been of great value and has transformed my life and my future. Without this scholarship and support, studying a doctorate abroad would have remained a distant dream. It is not only financial support, but also a vote of confidence that drives me to do my best every day. For all of this I am deeply grateful; this support has made the difference between imagining this goal and living it to the fullest.
What kind of work do you hope to do in the future, and how do you hope your research will benefit people in the U.S. and Mexico?
In the future I wish to continue growing as a researcher, deepening and expanding my areas of work in remote sensing and climate change. I also see myself teaching; teaching is one of my passions and I want to share my knowledge with students who are interested, motivated, and disciplined to learn.
I am excited about becoming an educator and organizing face-to-face workshops in Mexico inspired by the NASA ARSET program. The objective of the workshops is to show undergraduate and graduate students how to access satellite data and how to process the information to apply it in local projects. My research will provide accurate data to identify critical areas in the United States where prevention and mitigation measures should be focused and implemented to improve air quality and protect public health. At the same time, the workshops I will teach will allow Mexican students to acquire skills to develop their own projects, both in Mexico and abroad.
What advice would you give to other Mexican students considering studying in Texas?
I would advise them to take advantage of the opportunity we have as Mexicans to access the extraordinary support provided by the ConTex/SECIHTI scholarship. I have met many international students who are surprised that our country supports us in this way; most of them must seek financing on their own. We are truly fortunate to have this benefit and to be able to get an education in such an enriching environment as UTSA provides, surrounded by world-class professors, peers, and resources.
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