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  3. Mindy Reynolds

Mindy Reynolds

Faculty
Department of Biology
  • Alonzo G. and Virginia Gent Decker Professor of Biology • Co-Director Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Major

Portrait photo of Mindy Reynolds

Mindy Reynolds

 

Office Hours

Change each semester, please email for scheduling

My wet-bench research is focused on chronic exposure to metal compounds, such as nickel, cobalt, and cadmium.  Exposure to these metals has long been known to increase cancer incidence but the mechanisms by which they induce cancer are not well understood.  My lab examines cytotoxicity and genotoxicity following co-exposure to these metals. To understand these processes, we use molecular and genetic approaches in a human cell culture model. Altogether, our improved understanding of the mechanisms of DNA damage and toxicity will enhance our knowledge in the development of cancer.  

Students have worked on this project both during the summer and academic year. The opportunity to work in the laboratory has enabled students to experience the frustrations and excitement of research. Additionally, many students who have worked in my lab have gone on to pursue advanced degrees and obtain research internships at prestigious institutions. Each year students from my lab present their results at the annual Society of Toxicology Meeting as well as at various Washington College events 

In recent years, I have been focused on educational research, more specifically, how people learn science and how instructors and scientists can collaborate to make teaching and learning more engaging.   I am currently working on two collaborate research grants funded by the NSF which focus on (1) creating a structured mentoring program and partnership between faculty at 2- and 4-year colleges  to form enriching collaborations in developing, awareness of and confidence in implementing and assessing evidence based instructional practices (2418046) and (2) collaboratively developing disciplinary-specific course undergraduate research experience (CURE) modules for introductory and upper-level STEM courses with the goal of increasing adoption of CUREs nationwide the therefore enhancing student academic success by providing opportunities for an immersive research experience.  Students interested in education and the development of teaching labs have been aiding in the progression of these projects.

 

Education

  • B.A., Wheaton College
  • Ph.D., Brown University

 

Academic Expertise

  • Cd exposure
  • Ni exposure
  • NSF grants
  • Educational Research

 

Additional Information

  • 2007-2008 Adjunct Professor; Salve Regina University; Department of Biology
  • 2007-2008 Postdoctoral Fellow; Brown University; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
  • Summer 2007 Course Instructor; Brown University; Summer at Brown: Precollege Program
     
  • Rupprecht B**, Wise JP, Reynolds M*. 2022. A Case Study for Teaching Toxicology: Using  Whales as an Indicator for Environmental Health. CourseSource 
     9. https://doi.org/10.24918/cs.2022.30
  • Gobrecht, J.**, Comotto, J.**, Donald, C.**, Reynolds, M.  (2017) Induction of cytotoxic and genotoxic damage following exposure of V79 cells to cadmium chloride.  Mutation Research: Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis.  816-817, 12-17.
  • Reynolds, M.* (2013) A Toxicological Study using Zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model.  The Journal of Toxicological Education http://darchive.mblwhoilibrary.org/handle/1912/6314 
  • Patel, E.**, Reynolds, M.  (2013) Methylmercury impairs motor function in early development and induces oxidative stress in cerebellar granule cells.  Toxicology Letters.  222(3) 265-72. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23948120
  • NSF RCN-UBE #2416714 (PI: Josh Gray) StressCURE: A Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) Toolkit. ($399,372). Reynolds, M* Co-PI. subaward $75,934 
  • NSF RCN-UBE #2418046 (PI: Mindy Reynolds*). Fostering a Mentoring Networks for Evidence-Based Teaching (FAMNet). ($75,000) 
  • 2023 Society of Toxicology, Excellence in Service Award for mentoring
  • 2015 Society of Toxicology Undergraduate Educators Award Recipient
  • 2012 Washington College's Gold Pentagon Leadership Award
  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Toxicology
  • General Biology
  • GRW Body Toxic: Hazardous Chemicals and Everyday Life