Yolanda Vasquez

Yolanda Vasquez is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Oklahoma State University. Her research focuses on nanoscale materials, catalysis, drug delivery, and biointerfaces. She holds a B.S. from the University of Texas at El Paso and a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University, followed by postdoctoral training at Harvard University.

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, University of Texas at El Paso (2003)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Inorganic Chemistry, Texas A&M University (2009)
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (2009–2012)

Research Interests: Her work involves developing nanoparticles for catalytic applications (e.g., iron phosphide for hydrogen evolution), gold nanocarriers for drug delivery targeting rheumatoid arthritis, and collaborations in surface science. Recent efforts include ion-exchange reactions between metal-oxide and metal-sulfide nanoparticles and evaluating biointerface interactions for biomedical uses.

Grants & Awards:

• Mary Fieser Fellowship (2009–2012)
• NSF CAREER Award (2016–2022)
• REU Site Grant for Chemical Sciences (2025–2028)

Teaching & Service: Teaches courses like Chemistry I/II, Bioinorganic Chemistry, and directs the Camp Nano outreach program. Served as Chair of the College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Council and co-organizer of the Advanced Functional Inorganic Materials Symposium.

Labs & Teams: Directs the Vasquez Lab (https://vasquezlab.okstate.edu/), focusing on nanomaterial synthesis and applications in energy and medicine.