Erica D. Bruce, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Environmental Science
Education
- Ph.D., Texas A&M University, 2007
- M.S., Texas A&M University, 2001
- B.S., Texas A&M University, 1999
Biography
Dr. Bruce joined the Baylor faculty in the fall of 2008. Previously, she was an independent environmental consultant working for various clients including the Department of Energy. While at Texas A&M University she received the National Science Foundation Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP), the Bridge to Doctorate (BTD) Fellowship. Dr. Bruce is also a member of the Society of Toxicology (SOT), where she holds a national leadership position, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), and Chi Epsilon (National Civil Engineering Honor Society). On a lighter note, Dr. Bruce enjoys cooking, gardening, outdoor adventures and any time spent with her husband and young daughters.
Academic Interests and Research
The overarching focus of research performed in my laboratory is answering a variety of mechanistic toxicological questions relating to insult, injury, and healing of human systems. My area of major interest is in areas relating to hypoxia-induced medical conditions occurring from insults, injury, or exposures to environmental contaminates and pharmaceuticals (i.e., traumatic brain injury (TBI), burns, cancer, chronic wound healing). The role that the environment plays in human health and subsequent healing following the aforementioned insults or injuries is of significant interest. Our investigations focus on the cellular mechanisms of toxic action/healing and the mechanisms of uptake for nanomedicine applications to treat these hypoxia-induced conditions. Areas of ongoing research includes developing nanomedicine interventions to reverse hypoxia in situ, evaluating environmental contribution to hypoxia-induced conditions (e.g. human health risk assessment), using quantitative structure-activity (QSAR) modeling for drug design, and evaluating mechanistic biological responses, that play a role in healing, from exposures to environmental contaminants and pharmaceuticals.
Current Openings
We are recruiting graduate students for research and teaching assistantship positions in the Bruce Lab. We also have openings for postdoctoral fellows. If you are interested in joining our team, contact Dr. Erica Bruce (erica_bruce@baylor.edu) for more information about potential opportunities.