Dulce Selene Castillo
McAllen,TX
Summary
Dynamic and results-driven professional with experience as a Student Assistant at AstroBioChemistry Lab. Demonstrated expertise in experimental design and data analysis, while excelling in collaboration and communication. Contributed to successful project outcomes through effective teamwork and critical thinking, ensuring accurate data recording and insightful scientific reporting.
Overview
2
2
years of professional experience
Work History
Student Assistant
AstroBioChemistry Lab
01.2024 - Current
- Assisted researchers in conducting experiments.
- Organized and prepared materials for scientific experiments and analyses.
- Recorded and analyzed data from laboratory experiments accurately.
- Participated in team meetings to discuss project progress and goals.
Education
High school or equivalent -
Valley View High School
Hidalgo, Texas06.2023
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry - Major, Mechanical Engineering - Minor
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, TexasSkills
- Audience and stage communication
- Leadership
- Communication skills
- Discipline
- Collaboration
- Adaptability
- Experimental design
- Data analysis
- Laboratory techniques
- Research methodology
- Scientific reporting
- Team collaboration
- Problem identification
- Critical thinking
Awards
- Honors, 06/2023, Recognized for academic achievements.
- STEM Endorsement, 06/2023, Recognized for participating in the T-STEM program all 4 years of high school.
- Dean's Excellence Fellowship Merit Scholarship, 08/2023-Current, Provides undergraduate learning experience for high-achieving students emphasizing research.
- SIBCS Summer Research Scholarship, 06/2024, Provides support for students pursuing undergraduate research.
- NASA RAISE Seminar Series Internship Opportunity, 01/2025, Declined due to better opportunities.
- SIBCS Student Success Award Winner, 06/2025, Awarded for Undergraduate Research in Chemistry; recognizing outstanding contributions in astrobiochemistry research and dedication to science communication.
- 2025 AIW Baylor University, 06/2025, Accepted into an Instrumental Workshop hosted by Baylor University to learn about Raman Spectroscopy, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, and Material Science.
Poster Presentations
- FIESTA Symposium, 11/2024, Presented how chemistry is tied into daily life by using a culturally significant food.
- SIBCS Research Symposium, 12/2024, Presented on a theoretical space mission to Enceladus and the sequestration of ATP onto synthesized iron sulfides.
- Texas Area Planetary Sciences Meeting, 10/2025, Presented on the study of exogenous organic material on the surface of Europa.
- SIBCS Research Symposium 12/2026, Presented on the exogenous material of Europa's Surface from meteorites and it's extraction protocol.
Research
AstroBioChemistry Research Lab at the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley, Synthesis of Iron Sulfides in anoxic conditions, Liquid Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry, microfluidics, degassing methods, glovebox, The sequestration of ATP on Iron Sulfides, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H NMR), dilutions, pH adjustment, centrifuging, The studies of exogenous and endogenous materials on icy worlds, planetary simulator, Residual gas analysis, Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Raman Spectroscopy
Languages
English
Native/ Bilingual
Spanish
Native/ Bilingual
Timeline
Student Assistant
AstroBioChemistry Lab
01.2024 - Current
High school or equivalent -
Valley View High School
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry - Major, Mechanical Engineering - Minor
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley