Giancarlo López-Martínez

What are your primary research and scholarly interests?

I’m interested in how environmental exposures affects animals across multiple timescales (shortterm, long-term, transgenerationally). My lab focuses on whether this effect is at the molecular, tissues, and/or organismal level and we primarily work with insects. We study the positive (hormesis) and negative (stress) effects of many common factors (temperature, oxygen, radiation, dehydration, heavy metals, etc).

How does this tie into the work you are doing with ND-ACES?

As the lead of Broadening Participation my research does not directly tie into my work in ND-ACES, but as a professor I do a fair amount of work towards broadening participation of underrepresented groups in science.

Where are you from and where did you pursue your education?

I was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico and after graduating high school I moved to Ohio for my education. My multiple bachelor’s degrees, my masters, and my PhD were all earned at the Ohio State University. All four in different fields: Animal sciences, EEOB, Acarology, and Insect molecular physiology.

What excites you about ND EPSCoR?

The opportunity to reach students across North Dakota that have historically been underrepresented in our universities and in science. As well as making science more available to a wider audience.

What motivates you?

Three things motivate me above anything else. 1st my children motivate me to work hard and be better every day. 2nd getting things done and moving forward while only looking back for inspiration on how to change the future. And lastly, baked goods. So when my children bake treats for me, the sky is the limit!

If you could time travel, where would you go?

I would go back home to Puerto Rico somewhere around 1492. I would happily stand with my ancestors to resist the colonizers and their ensuing genocide of my people.

If you could have coffee / tea with anyone, who would it be?

If I am lucky, I will be able to have hot chocolate weekly with my kids for a very long time.

What was your first job?

I worked for Physical Facilities at Ohio State doing landscaping and irrigation on campus.

What does your very best day include?

Baked goods, hot chocolate, low temperatures and snow, my kids, my wife, and a very complicated Lego set (or two).

What’s your favorite quote?

“Failure has a thousand explanations. Success doesn’t need one” -Sir Alec Guinness