Raquel Marchán-Rivadeneira

Raquel Marchán-Rivadeneira is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Ohio University’s College of Arts and Sciences. She also serves as an Assistant Investigator at the Institute for Molecular Medicine and Aging and as Adjunct Faculty in the Translational Biomedical Sciences Program. Her work bridges evolutionary biology and biomedical discovery, with a strong emphasis on ecological genomics and natural products research.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Biology, Texas Tech University
• M.Sc. in Biology, Texas Tech University
• B.S. in Biology, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador

Dr. Marchán-Rivadeneira’s research focuses on understanding how natural populations adapt across environmental gradients using integrative approaches combining genomics and phenotypic analyses. She also explores biological diversity as a proxy for chemical diversity, aiming to identify novel antimicrobial, anticancer, and antiviral compounds from natural sources. Her work spans conservation genetics, biosynthesis, and the application of gene-editing tools like CRISPR-Cas13 in antiviral strategies.

Recent publications highlight her contributions to drug discovery, particularly in polycyclic tetramate macrolactams and rapid antibiotic development. Her research also includes landscape genetics in amphibians, speciation dynamics in reptiles, and morphological responses to environmental stressors such as radiation. These works reflect a strong interdisciplinary trend integrating molecular biology, evolutionary ecology, and biomedicine.

Scientific Awards:

• No awards listed in available text.

Dr. Marchán-Rivadeneira is actively involved in research and collaborative projects, though specific details on grants or student mentorship are not provided. Her affiliations with both basic and translational research programs suggest engagement in funded research and academic training. She is likely involved in mentoring graduate students and securing external funding, given the scope and publication output of her work.

She conducts her research at the Konneker Research Center on Ohio University’s Athens campus, where she maintains a laboratory focused on molecular and evolutionary studies. Her dual roles in the Institute for Molecular Medicine and Aging and the Translational Biomedical Sciences Program indicate integration into interdisciplinary teams working at the intersection of evolution and human health.