Alumni Spotlight on Dr. Adelita Mendoza

Dr. Adelita Mendoza, PhD, is a CRS Alumni and former team member of Dr. Tom O'Halloran, who received her PhD from NU in 2018. She is now a postdoctoral fellow at Washington University in St. Louis where she is conducing research on zinc trafficking and metabolishm in C. elegans and in understanding how worms sense zing in the absence of gravity, a project supported NASA.

Name: Dr. Adelita Mendoza, PhD

Thesis Title: Investigations into the role of zinc regulation in germline development in Caenorhabditis elegans

Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow at Washinton University

What is your connection to the CRS community and what is your current position?

I was a member of the CRS community as a graduate student. My research involved studying the role of zinc in germline development, and meiotic progression in C. elegans. I am now a Post-Doctoral Associate at Washington University in St. Louis in the Kornfeld Lab.

Could you describe your current research?

I currently study zinc trafficking and metabolism in C. elegans. In the worm, there are two known pathways that are involved in zinc sensing and transcriptional response that either results in net storage of zinc in gut granules (a specialized gut lysosome) or net release. I am working to identify specific transcription factors and gene promoter elements that are involved in either activation or repression of these pathways, the zinc transporters that mediate zinc storage or release from gut granules, and how the gut granules accommodate zinc flow.  

I am also interested in studying how worms sense zinc in the absence of gravity, and if aberrations in the sensing mechanism affects lifespan and the expression of genes known to regulate zinc metabolism. In the next year, I will learn how to conduct spaceflight experiments under the NASA Spaceflight, Technologies, Application, and Research (STAR) course. It will be an important step toward establishing my own research trajectory.

What aspect(s) of CRS did you find most valuable?

It was a great community with a fun cast of characters! There were also many training opportunities for graduate students. All of the faculty were easily accessible to me and always gave me great feedback on my research.

What has been the most valuable aspect to your training as a reproductive scientist in CRS?

I think being a member of CRS helped me understand the connection between the research we do and how it impacts women’s reproductive health. Understanding how our work impacts society is critical. It is a responsibility that scientists should be aware of. So now, I always keep in mind how my work impacts society. It gives mundane activities in the lab more meaningful, and it drives me be the more productive, creative, and detail oriented in my job.

What would you recommend to junior scientists in order for them succeed in their scientific careers?​

Never underestimate your skillset or your capabilities. Our skills as scientists aren’t restricted to benchwork and specific assays or techniques that we’ve acquired. Our skills extend beyond that and can be honed, in a number of ways beyond the bench. I encourage junior scientists to seek out as many training opportunities as they can and be open to exploring different careers based on their interest and skillset.

What do you think will be the next big contribution in the reproductive biology field?

I think anything which addresses long-standing issues in reproductive health, such as finding ways to extend fertility, and then making the technologies/benefits accessible to women.

Do you have any notable stories from your time in CRS?

I will always remember enjoying being around friends who were passionate about the same things that I was. Also, tasty lunch!