Mariel Vázquez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mariel Vázquez
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| Born | 1971/1972 (age 53–54) |
| Nationality | Mexican |
| Alma mater | Florida State University |
| Known for | Research in DNA topology |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematics, Biology |
| Institutions | University of California, Davis |
| Doctoral advisor | De Witt Sumners |
Mariel Vázquez is a brilliant Mexican scientist. She was born on February 17, 1972. She is a mathematical biologist. This means she uses math to understand living things, especially DNA.
Dr. Vázquez is a professor at the University of California, Davis. She teaches in both the math department and the microbiology and molecular genetics department. Her main work is studying the topology of DNA. This is like studying how DNA strands twist and knot.
Becoming a Scientist
Early Studies
Mariel Vázquez loved math from a young age. She earned her first degree, a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, in 1995. She studied at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
Advanced Degrees
Later, she moved to the United States to continue her studies. She earned her Ph.D. in mathematics in 2000. This advanced degree came from Florida State University. For her Ph.D., she wrote a very important paper called a "dissertation." It was about how DNA tangles and untangles. Her professor, De Witt Sumners, helped guide her research.
Her Work and Research
Postdoctoral Research
After getting her Ph.D., Dr. Vázquez became a postdoctoral fellow. This is like a special researcher position after you finish your main studies. From 2000 to 2005, she worked at the University of California, Berkeley.
There, she studied how DNA repairs itself in human cells. She used math and physics to create models of these processes. This work was part of a group that looked at how radiation affects living things.
Teaching and Professorship
From 2005 to 2014, Dr. Vázquez was a professor. She taught math at San Francisco State University. In 2014, she moved to the University of California, Davis. She joined the faculty there as a special scholar.
At UC Davis, she continues her important research. She also teaches students about math and biology.
Awards and Special Honors
Dr. Mariel Vázquez has received many awards for her amazing work. These awards show how much her research helps us understand DNA.
National Science Foundation CAREER Award
In 2011, she received a big award. It was the National Science Foundation CAREER Award. This award helped her study how DNA untangles itself.
Presidential Early Career Award
In 2012, she made history at San Francisco State University. She was the first professor from that school to receive the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. This is one of the highest honors for young scientists in the U.S.
National Institutes of Health Grant
She also received a grant in 2013 from the National Institutes of Health. A grant is money given to scientists to help them do their research. Her grant was for using computers to study how DNA knots come undone.
Blackwell-Tapia Prize
In 2016, Dr. Vázquez was given the Blackwell-Tapia prize. This award is given every two years. It honors mathematicians who do great research. It also recognizes those who help more minority groups get involved in math.
Association for Women in Mathematics Fellow
In 2017, she was chosen as one of the first fellows for the Association for Women in Mathematics. This group supports women in math. Being a fellow means she is recognized as a leader in her field.
American Mathematical Society Fellow
In 2020, she was elected a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society. This honor recognized her research. It also highlighted her efforts to help groups that are not often seen in math.
American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow
Most recently, in 2023, Dr. Vázquez was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. This shows her continued impact on science.
See also
In Spanish: Mariel Vázquez para niños
