Veronica G. Martinez Acosta

Veronica G. Martinez Acosta, Ph.D. is a Professor of Biology at the University of the Incarnate Word, where she has worked since 2008, previously serving as Associate Professor (2012-2018) and Assistant Professor. She co-directs the NSF REU site at the Marine Biological Laboratory and serves as an officer of the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience.

• Ph.D. in Zoology from Texas A&M University (2005)
• Postdoctoral fellowship in Neurobiology at University of Texas (2005-06)

Her research focuses on neural regeneration and stem cell dynamics in invertebrate models like Lumbriculus variegatus and Drosophila, investigating molecular mechanisms that enable functional recovery after injury. She emphasizes undergraduate research mentorship, with funding from NSF and the Department of the Army.

Recent publications highlight her dual focus on regenerative biology (studying annelid worms' neural repair processes) and diversity initiatives in STEM education. Her 2018 article on university-level diversity planning underscores her commitment to equity in academia.

Scientific Recognition

• UIW Dr. Kathleen Light Outstanding Faculty Award (2019)
• Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology travel award (2018)
• Multiple UIW Faculty Endowment Research Awards (2009-2019)

As a Whitman Center Scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory since 2016, she contributes to summer research programs while maintaining an active lab at UIW. Her teaching portfolio includes advanced courses in neurobiology, developmental biology, and cell biology.