Andrea Holgado

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Andrea Holgado
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School
School of Natural Sciences
Department
Biological Sciences
Office
North - John Brooks Williams 219, 25
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Dr. Andrea Holgado is a Professor of Biological Sciences and serves as the Director of both Undergraduate Research and the McNair Scholar Program. In her role as a faculty member, she teaches courses in Cell Biology, Cancer Biology and Social Justice, and the Neurobiology of Mental Illness. Beyond her teaching responsibilities, Dr. Holgado mentors undergraduates in neuroscience research and actively promotes research initiatives throughout the campus.

Dr. Holgado joined the St. Edward's University faculty in August 2017. She earned her Bachelor’s in Biology Education, Bachelor’s in Biology, and Ph.D. in Biology from the National University of Cordoba, Argentina. Before becoming faculty at St. Edward’s University, she was a postdoctoral researcher at Northwestern University and the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her postdoctoral research focused on the molecular analysis of synapse formation and maintenance in hippocampal neurons in culture and in the model organism C. elegans. She began her career in teaching in 2005 as a non-tenure-track instructor in the biology department at Loyola University in Chicago and in 2008 joined the faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU), serving as an assistant and associate professor and department chair until 2017. Working at primarily undergraduate institutions (PUI), SWOSU and St. Edward’s University, she emphasizes research in science education using high-impact practices to train future members of the bioscience workforce, course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) in laboratory courses, and mentoring undergraduates in co-curricular capstone experiences. Since 2008, she has mentored over 100 undergraduates, published research manuscripts, contributed to conference presentations, and served as the PI of OCAST, OK-INBRE, OK-EPSCoR, NSF-RUI, NSF Major Research Instrumentation, and NSF HSI grants. These efforts have resulted in her receipt of national and regional awards from the Institutional Network of Biomedical Research Excellence, the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, and the Oklahoma House of Representative Harold Wright.

 

Teacher & Scholar Philosophy

To describe my philosophy as an educator and scientist succinctly, I must quote Dr. Rosalyn Yallow, co-winner of the 1977 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. During the Nobel Prize banquet speech, Dr. Yalow said, "we bequeath to you, the next generation, our knowledge but also our problems. While we still live, let us join hands, hearts, and minds to work together for their solution so that your world will be better than ours and the world of your children even better".

Academic Appointments

Director of Undergraduate Research and the McNair Scholar Program, 2024-present.

Program Director, National Science Foundation, 2022-2024.

Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, St. Edward's University, 2017-present.

Department Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, St. Edward's University, 2019-2022.

Director, Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, St. Edward's University, 2018-2020.

Associate Department Chair, Depart. of Biological Sciences, St. Edward's Univ., 2017-2019.

Honors Program co-Director at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 2015-2017.

Department Chair, Biol. Sciences, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 2014-2017.

Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 2012-2017.

Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 2008-2012.

Languages Spoken

Spanish and English

M.B.A., Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Weatherford, OK, 2015.

Ph.D. Biology, National University of Córdoba, Argentina, 1997.

B.S. Biology, National University of Córdoba, Argentina, 1993.

B.S. Secondary Science Education (Biology), National University of Córdoba, Argentina, 1991.

Honors and Awards

2024    Special Act Award, Division of Biological Infrastructure, NSF.

2023    NSF Director’s Award for Superior Accomplishment (Group Award).

2022    Innovation fellow, St. Edward's University.

2020    Named member of the NIH-Delaware INBRE External Advisory Committee, DE.

2018    Innovation fellow, St. Edward's University.

2018    NSCI Dean Award for Excellence in Research, St. Edward's University.

2017    Named member of the International Women Forum, chapter Argentina.

2015    Named National Academies Education Fellow in the Life Sciences.

2013    Mentoring recognition awarded by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence.

2012    Outstanding Mentor "Sidney A. McNairy, Jr." Award awarded by the Institutional Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE).                       

2008    Excellence in Teaching Award, Loyola University Chicago.        

Research

The primary aim of my research team is to uncover the mechanisms behind neuronal signaling and neuroplasticity. To achieve this, we focus on isolating and analyzing mutants in the soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) that disrupt these processes.

At present, we are investigating two critical processes related to neuronal signaling and neuroplasticity: (1) the development and maintenance of the neural network, and (2) cellular autophagy. While these processes are generally thought to be separate, our recent findings suggest a novel link. Specifically, the protein UNC-33 (the C. elegans counterpart of collapsin response mediator protein or CRMP), known for regulating axon length, appears to influence autophagy in a way that is not yet fully understood. Thus, our current research focuses on exploring the roles of UNC-33 and autophagy in neuronal development and survival.

Active Grants

1) Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program 
PI: Andrea Holgado (former PI: Molly Minus)
Award # P217A220167
Dates of Approval: 10/1/22–9/30/27
Direct and Indirect cost: $1,374,915 

Past Extramural Research Support (last five years)

2) NSF RUI: Examining molecular players integrating autophagy and axonal elongation
PI: Andrea Holgado (delegated to Lisa Goering)
Award #1748523
Dates of approval: 5/1/17-8/30/24
Direct and Indirect costs: $634,500

3) Institute for Interdisciplinary Science (i4): Preparing Students for the 4th Industrial Revolution.
PI: Andrea Holgado (transferred to Bilal Shebaro)
coPIs: Laura Baker, Raychelle Burks, Charles Hauser, Paul Walter
Award #1832282  
Dates of the proposal: 10/1/18-9/30/24
Direct and Indirect cost: $1,499,944

4) Pesticidas, Aldehidos toxicos y Parkinsonismo 
PI: Andrea Holgado
coPI: Miriam Virgolini (IFEC. CONICET. Depto de Farmacología. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina)
Award# SUBSIDIO CÉSAR MILSTEIN
Dates Approved: 7/11/20-8/15/22

5) MRI: Acquisition of a versatile, user-friendly, automated fluorescence microscope to promote research performed by faculty and undergraduates at a Hispanic-serving institution
PI: Andrea Holgado
coPI: Daniel Gold. 
Award #1826871 
Dates of the proposal: 10/1/18-9/30/21
Direct and Indirect costs: $207,310

Publications

Note: undergraduate students italicized.

  1. Miranda, M., Hyde, J., Salazar, K., Bell B., and Holgado, A. (2024). Investigating the effects of antipsychotic drugs as a treatment for improving the activity of the unc-33/DPYSL2 gene in C. elegans. microPublication Biology. 10.17912/micropub.biology.001063.
  2. Gonzales-Moreno, C, Fernandez-Hubeid, LE; Holgado, A; Virgolini, MB (2023). Low-dose N-acetyl cysteine prevents paraquat-induced mortality in Caenorhabditis elegans. microPublication Biology. 10.17912/micropub.biology.000815.
  3. Samaro A, Cristancho A, Rivas A, Valtierra R, Beck S, Cantu J, Miranda M, Vacio A, Cardenas Muedano O and Holgado A (2023), The daf-7(e1372) mutation rescues dauer formation defects seen in C. elegans unc-33 mutants. Front. Physiol. 14:975878. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2023.975878
  4. Garcia-Gonzalez, B; Avant, S; Carassco-Pena, A; Miranda, MC; Salazar, K; Torres , E; Holgado, A (2022). Investigating the regulation of the unc-33 promoter by environmental stressors. microPublication Biology. 10.17912/micropub.biology.000651.
  5. Shebaro B, DeMuynck J P, Hauser C, Holgado A, Thompson R S, Walter P J (2022). Closing the Gap: Building Internship Programs for Career Readiness. Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges. ISSN: 1937-4771. Vol. 37, Issue 7, pp. 40-47.
  6. Lopez M, Vacio A, Cantu J and Holgado A (2022). UNC-33L partially rescues life span and locomotion defects in unc-33 mutants but fails to rescue dauer formation defects. microPublication Biology. 10.17912/micropub.biology.000515
  7. Garcia Gonzalez B, Johansen C, and Holgado A (2020). UNC-33, a protein that may link genetic and environmental factors underlying Schizophrenia. McNair Scholars Research Journal, St. Edward's University. Vol. XII, 72-82.
  8. Ashley N and Holgado A (2019) The autophagy gene product BEC-1 supports normal aging and neurodevelopment in Caenorhabditis elegans I. microPublication Biology. 10.17912/micropub.biology.000099.
  9. Ashley N and Holgado A (2019) The autophagy gene product BEC-1 supports normal aging and neurodevelopment in Caenorhabditis elegans II. microPublication Biology. 10.17912/micropub.biology.0000100.
  10. Ashley N and Holgado A (2019) The autophagy gene product BEC-1 supports normal aging and neurodevelopment in Caenorhabditis elegans III. microPublication Biology. 10.17912/micropub.biology.0000101.
  11. Ashley N and Holgado A (2019) The autophagy gene product BEC-1 supports normal aging and neurodevelopment in Caenorhabditis elegans: Integration. microPublication Biology. 10.17912/micropub.biology.0000102.
  12. Abbott M, Fuller J, Howe M, Caniglia M, and Holgado A (2014), Generating Caenorhabditis elegans UNC-33 antigens to be used for the Synthesis of Polyclonal Antibodies. SWOSU JUR 1:27-40.
  13. Rodriguez A, Mc Kay K, Graham M, Dittrich J, and Holgado A (2014). Analysis of differential gene expression profiles in C. elegans knockouts for the v-SNARE master protein 1. Journal of Neuroscience Research. 92:772-82. PMID: 24615917.
  14. Seals L, Nkeih C, Bernhardt N, Hayden C, and Wright C, Amoyaw P, Khan F and Holgado A. (2013).  C. elegans v-SNARE master protein 1 (VSM-1) fails to co-precipitate with neuronal SNARE proteins SNB-1, UNC-64, and RIC-4A/B during in vitro pull-downs. Proceedings of The National Conference of Undergraduate Research.
  15. Hubbard C, Benda E, Hardin T, Baxter T, St John E, O'Brien S, Hensley K, and Holgado AM (2013). "Lanthionine ketimine ethyl ester partially rescues a neuro-developmental defect in UNC-33 (DPYSL2/CRMP2) mutants. Journal of Neuroscience Research. 9:1183-90.
  16. Guthmueller KL, Yoder ML, and Holgado AM (2011) Determining genetic expression profiles in C. elegans using microarray and real-time PCR.  Journal of Visualized Experiments.  JoVE. 53. 2777.
  17. Wolyniak MJ, Alvarez CJ, Chandrasekaran V, Grana TM, Holgado A, Jones CJ, Morris RW,  Pereira AL, Stamm J, Washington TM, Yang Y (2010) Building better scientist through cross-disciplinary collaboration in synthetic biology: A meeting report for the genome consortium for active teaching (GCAT) workshop 2010. CBE Life Sciences Education. 9:399-404.
  18. Gracheva EO, Burdina AO, Holgado AM, Berthelot-Grosjean M, Ackley BD, Hadwiger G, Nonet ML, Weimer RM, Richmond JE. (2006) Tomosyn Inhibits Synaptic Vesicle Priming in Caenorhabditis elegans.  PLoS Biol. 25;4(8):e261.
  19. Kay AR, Alfonso A, Alford S, Cline HT, Holgado AM, Sakmann B, Snitsarev VA, Stricker TP, Takahashi M, Wu LG. (1999)  Imaging synaptic activity in intact Brain and slices with FM1-43 in C. elegans, lamprey, and rat.  Neuron. 24:809-17.
  20. Nonet ML, Holgado AM, Brewer F, Serpe C, Norbeck B, Holleran J, Wei, Hartwieg E, Jorgensen EM, and Alfonso A (1999) UNC-11, a Caenorhabditis elegans AP180 homolog, regulates the size and protein composition of synaptic vesicles.  Mol Biol Cell. 10:2343-60.
  21. Holgado A, Ferreira A. (2000)  Synapse formation proceeds independently of dendritic elongation in cultured hippocampal neurons.  J Neurobiol. 43:121-31. 
  22. Holgado A. and Beaugé L. (1996) Effects of external monovalent cations on Na+/Ca+2 exchange in cultured rat glial cells. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 779:279-281.
  23. Holgado A. and Beaugé L. (1995) The Na+/Ca+2 exchange system in rat glial cells in culture: activation by external monovalent cations. Glia 14(2):77-86.
  24. Cocucci AA, Holgado AM, Anton AM. (1996) Estudio morfologico y anatomico de los eleoforos pedicelados de Dinemandra ericoides, Malpigiacea endemica del desierto de Atacama, Chile. Darwiniana 34. 183-192. (Eng.)

Other publications:

25. Holgado A, (2020) Tips for Getting Hired at a Primarily Undergraduate Institution https://neuronline.sfn.org/career-paths/tips-for-getting-hired-at-a-primarily-undergraduate-institution.