Nayanna M. Mercado Soto

Dedicated scientist and educator with a strong foundation in curriculum development and student engagement. Proven ability to collaborate effectively within teams and adapt to evolving educational needs. Equipped with expertise in instructional strategies, classroom management, and fostering a positive learning environment. Consistently focused on achieving measurable results and supporting student success.

• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, 09/23-Ongoing, DGE-2137424
• Dr. Leonard E. Mortenson Graduate Scholarship, 09/22 & 09/24, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Science & Medicine Graduate Research Scholars Fellowship, 09/21-07/22, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program Fellow, 07/20-06/21, University of Michigan

• Scales MK, Velez-Delgado A, Steele NG, Schrader HE, Stabnick AM, Yan W, Mercado Soto NM, et al. (2022) Combinatorial Gli activity directs immune infiltration and tumor growth in pancreatic cancer. PLoS Genet 18(7): e1010315.
• Smith, D., Kannan, G., Coppens, I., Wang, F., Nguyen, H. M., Cerutti, A., Olafsson E. B., Rimple P. A., Schultz T., Mercado Soto N. M., ... & Carruthers, V. B. (2021). Toxoplasma TgATG9 is critical for autophagy and long-term persistence in tissue cysts. Elife, 10, e59384.
• Mercado-Soto, N.M., Keller, N.P., Huttenlocher A., Poster: The zebrafish larvae as a model for Aspergillus fumigatus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa coinfection. Advances Against Aspergillosis and Mucormycosis Meeting. Milano, Italy. 01/28/24.
• Mercado-Soto, N.M., Stuntebeck, J., Keller N.P., Huttenlocher A., Poster: Investigating the role of GPR132 (G2A) during Aspergillus fumigatus hindbrain and burn-wound infection. Zebrafish Disease Models 16. Durham, NC. 10/04/23.

• Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 09/21, Current, Dr. Nancy P. Keller, Dr. Anna Huttenlocher, Designing, managing, and conducting research projects towards doctoral dissertation using zebrafish larvae to understand host-pathogen interactions and wound healing mechanisms., Mentored and trained an undergraduate student researcher., Collaborate with other lab members and researchers across campus and at other institutions., Served in various roles, including peer mentor and member of the MDTP Social Media Committee.
• Postbaccalaureate Research Fellow, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 06/20, 05/21, Dr. Vernon Carruthers, Research Project: Autophagy and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in Toxoplasma gondii infection., Designed and conducted experiments to investigate oxidative damage and autophagy in T. gondii., Contributed to revision experiments for manuscript: Toxoplasma TgATG9 is critical for autophagy and long-term persistence in tissue cysts (Smith et al, 2021).
• Summer Research Intern, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 06/19, 08/19, Dr. Benjamin L. Allen, Research Project: Investigating the role of Hedgehog Signaling in the pancreatic cancer microenvironment., Engaged in a project using a series of techniques such as RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence assay and cell culture to investigate the role of the Hedgehog signaling pathway in pancreatic cancer surrounding stroma., Collaborated with experiments for manuscript: Combinatorial Gli activity directs immune infiltration and tumor growth in pancreatic cancer (Scales et al, 2022).