Dr. Renã A. S. Robinson
Program Co-Director
Dr. Renã Robinson is a bioanalytical chemist, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Neurology, and a Dorothy J. Wingfield Phillips Chancellor’s Faculty Fellow. She is a mass-spectrometry expert who is developing cutting-edge and state-of-the art proteomics technologies for multiplexing in quantitative proteomics (R01-GM117191) and using these technologies to advance human health. She has made significant contributions to the molecular understandings of AD in animal models, including the importance of oxidative stress.
Her current research focuses on developing novel proteomic and lipidomic platforms based on mass spectrometry to advance aging and especially an understanding of molecular contributions to health disparities amongst African Americans in AD (AARGD-17-533405, R01-AG064950). Her efforts extend outside of the laboratory to increasing disease awareness and research participation in minority communities (R01-AG054518). Dr. Robinson is currently completing one of the largest, multi-site discovery proteomics projects to date focused on AD in African Americans (R01-AG064950). Before joining the Vanderbilt faculty in 2017, Dr. Robinson was the Associate Director of the Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement Core at the University of Pittsburgh ADRC where she led African American outreach initiatives.
Dr. Robinson teaches undergraduate courses, including Introduction to Analytical Chemistry, Instrumental Analysis and is developing a University-wide course entitled, “Alzheimer’s Disease for the Next Generation.” She has served as primary mentor to ~80 trainees and on mentoring committees for postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty in chemistry and across campus. Her commitment to training URMs (including women, Black, Latinx, LGBTQIA, disabled, and neurodiverse individuals) in STEM is reflected in her excellent mentoring track record at the University of Pittsburgh, VU/VUMC, and nationally (NSF CoI-1933835 and 1744440). She is currently the President for the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE). She is part of the Vanderbilt Trans-Institutional Programs Award leadership structure for the Intersectionality Study of Black Women and Girls in Society.
She facilitates and coordinates Vanderbilt’s STEM Sistah Network series, which provides formal training, workshops, and community and safe spaces for Black female graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty across campus. Her exceptional track record in successfully teaching and mentoring individuals at all levels and her commitment to increasing the diversity of scientists in STEM ensures that she is well prepared to effectively implement this R25 program.