Verónica Rodríguez Saldaña
PhD Student
Natural Resource Sciences, McGill
TXRF Analysis of Lead Using Dried Blood Spots
[email protected]
PhD Student
Natural Resource Sciences, McGill
TXRF Analysis of Lead Using Dried Blood Spots
[email protected]
A) Educational Background
PhD McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada (2017-present)
Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Department of Natural Resource Sciences
Thesis: Development, validation and application of a TXRF-based method to meassure lead in dried bloodspots
MSc Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México (2014-2016)
Department of Environmental Chemistry
Thesis: Bioaccumulation in Cardisoma crassum and pollution assessment in a mangrove protected area in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
BS Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México (2007-2011)
Department of Natural Resource Sciences
Thesis: Metals and metalloids analysis in gills and muscle tissue of Cyprinus carpio from an arid lagoon of México
Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Department of Natural Resource Sciences
Thesis: Development, validation and application of a TXRF-based method to meassure lead in dried bloodspots
MSc Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México (2014-2016)
Department of Environmental Chemistry
Thesis: Bioaccumulation in Cardisoma crassum and pollution assessment in a mangrove protected area in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
BS Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México (2007-2011)
Department of Natural Resource Sciences
Thesis: Metals and metalloids analysis in gills and muscle tissue of Cyprinus carpio from an arid lagoon of México
B) Research Interests and Current Projects
My current research interests focus on lead (Pb) exposure assessment using dried bloodspots (DBS) to have a better understanding of the potential applications of DBS in different populations and settings. At McGill, my research involves the development of a novel TXRF-based method to analyze Pb in DBS, with attention to a study population from an electronic waste recycling site in Ghana. The components of this research can be sumarized in: 1) Developing and validating a TXRF-based method using DBS to assess Pb exposure; 2) Evaluating the Pb concentrations agreement between capillary and venous blood samples; and 3) testing short-term and long-term Pb stability on DBS under different conditions of humidity and temperature.
C) Honours and Awards
2017-2018 Differential Fee Waiver (McGill University)
2017 Doctoral Research Scholarship (The Fonds de Recherche du Québec-Nature et Technologies (FRQNT))
2017 CONACYT Doctorate Graduate Fellowship (Mexico)
2016 Best Oral Presentation at the International Symposium on Sediment Management (Montreal, Québec)
2016 Nominated for the "Alfonso Caso" Excelence Award (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México)
2016 First Class Honours (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México)
2014-2016 CONACYT graduate fellowship (Mexico)
2013 Best Thesis Awards (State of Chihuahua)
2012 Plant Identification Contest (State of Washington)
2011 International Symposium on Recent Advances in Environmental Health Research- Travel Award (Mississippi)
2011 First Class Honours (Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua)
2011 University Honors (Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua)
2011 Plant Identification Contest (State of Montana)
2010 Chihuahua Excelence Award (State of Chihuahua)
2010 Plant Identification Contest, Society of Range Management (State of Colorado)
2009-2012 UACH Educational Grant (Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua)
2017 Doctoral Research Scholarship (The Fonds de Recherche du Québec-Nature et Technologies (FRQNT))
2017 CONACYT Doctorate Graduate Fellowship (Mexico)
2016 Best Oral Presentation at the International Symposium on Sediment Management (Montreal, Québec)
2016 Nominated for the "Alfonso Caso" Excelence Award (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México)
2016 First Class Honours (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México)
2014-2016 CONACYT graduate fellowship (Mexico)
2013 Best Thesis Awards (State of Chihuahua)
2012 Plant Identification Contest (State of Washington)
2011 International Symposium on Recent Advances in Environmental Health Research- Travel Award (Mississippi)
2011 First Class Honours (Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua)
2011 University Honors (Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua)
2011 Plant Identification Contest (State of Montana)
2010 Chihuahua Excelence Award (State of Chihuahua)
2010 Plant Identification Contest, Society of Range Management (State of Colorado)
2009-2012 UACH Educational Grant (Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua)
D) Previous Research and Professional Experience
2017 Application Engineer, Integral Analytical Corporation, Mexico City
2014-2016 Masters Research Student, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
2012-2013 Bachelor Research Student, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua
2012-2013 Chemical Analyst, Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados, Chihuahua, Mexico
2011-2012 Teaching Assistant, Department of Natural Resources, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua
2010-2011 Undergraduate Technical Assisstant, Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados, Chihuahua, Mexico
2008-2010 Undergraduate Research Assistant, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Department of Natural Resources
2014-2016 Masters Research Student, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
2012-2013 Bachelor Research Student, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua
2012-2013 Chemical Analyst, Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados, Chihuahua, Mexico
2011-2012 Teaching Assistant, Department of Natural Resources, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua
2010-2011 Undergraduate Technical Assisstant, Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados, Chihuahua, Mexico
2008-2010 Undergraduate Research Assistant, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Department of Natural Resources
E) Publications and Presentations
Rodríguez-Saldaña V., Basu N. Comparison and Agreement Between Venous and Capillary Blood for the Analysis of Trace Elements. ISES-ISEE, August 26-30, 2018. [TALK]
Rodríguez-Saldaña V., Basu N., Santa-Ríos A. Total X-ray Fluorescence for the Analysis of Multiple Elements in Dried Blood Spots. ISES-ISEE, August 26-30, 2018. [POSTER]
Rodríguez-Saldaña V., González-Farías F. 2016. Heavy metals concentration in sediments and mangroves litterfall and bioaccumulation in Cardisoma crassum. 5th Internatonal Symposium on Sediment Management. July 10-13, 2016. [TALK]
Rodríguez-Saldaña V., Rubio-Arias, H., Mejia, P. and Miranda-Navarro, S. V. 2013. Heavy metals in common carp Cyprinus carpio from an arid lagoon of Mexico. 2013 Conference of the International Medical Geology Association. August 25-19, 2013. [POSTER]
Torres L., Melgoza, A., Rodríguez-Saldaña V., Morales C. 2010. Seed germination of native species from the desert of Chihuahua, Mexico. VI International Symposium of Grasslands. November 4-7, 2010. [POSTER]
Rodríguez-Saldaña V., González-Farías F. 2017. Bioaccumulation in Cardisoma crassum and pollution assessment in a mangrove protected area in Mexico. [In preparation]
Rodríguez-Saldaña V., Miranda-Navarro, S. V., and Flores-de-Santiago, F. 2016. Bioaccumulation of metals and metalloids in gills and muscle tissues of Cyprinus carpio from an arid lagoon of Mexico. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Research. [Submitted]
Rodríguez-Saldaña V., Basu N., Santa-Ríos A. Total X-ray Fluorescence for the Analysis of Multiple Elements in Dried Blood Spots. ISES-ISEE, August 26-30, 2018. [POSTER]
Rodríguez-Saldaña V., González-Farías F. 2016. Heavy metals concentration in sediments and mangroves litterfall and bioaccumulation in Cardisoma crassum. 5th Internatonal Symposium on Sediment Management. July 10-13, 2016. [TALK]
Rodríguez-Saldaña V., Rubio-Arias, H., Mejia, P. and Miranda-Navarro, S. V. 2013. Heavy metals in common carp Cyprinus carpio from an arid lagoon of Mexico. 2013 Conference of the International Medical Geology Association. August 25-19, 2013. [POSTER]
Torres L., Melgoza, A., Rodríguez-Saldaña V., Morales C. 2010. Seed germination of native species from the desert of Chihuahua, Mexico. VI International Symposium of Grasslands. November 4-7, 2010. [POSTER]
Rodríguez-Saldaña V., González-Farías F. 2017. Bioaccumulation in Cardisoma crassum and pollution assessment in a mangrove protected area in Mexico. [In preparation]
Rodríguez-Saldaña V., Miranda-Navarro, S. V., and Flores-de-Santiago, F. 2016. Bioaccumulation of metals and metalloids in gills and muscle tissues of Cyprinus carpio from an arid lagoon of Mexico. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Research. [Submitted]