Renã A. S. Robinson

Education and early research Born Rena A. Sowell, Renã A. S. Robinson is married and has two children. These proteomics methods were used to identify over 1,600 proteins. Results indicated connections between metabolic and defense-response proteins and aging.

Robinson then worked with Allan Butterfield at the University of Kentucky, receiving two postdoctoral fellowships: the Lyman T. Johnson fellowship and the UNCF/Merck Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Scientific career

From 2009 to 2017, Robinson was an assistant professor in the department of chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh, and a faculty member of the Biomedical Mass Spectrometry Center at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine At the end of 2017, she joined Vanderbilt University where she now leads the RASR Laboratory as an associate professor of chemistry, in the department of chemistry, department of neurology and faculty member of the department of chemical biology, and Vanderbilt Memory & Alzheimer's Center. One of the questions she studies is whether changes external to the brain, such as oxidative stress or metabolic alterations, occur before or after changes within the brain.

Proteins are involved in major functions throughout the body, including communication between cells. Changes in protein function, or in expression level of a protein, may cascade from one protein to another throughout a system. Protein behavior changes as people age, but scientists do not yet know why: is it a result of incremental damage over time, from oxidative stressors or other causes; or is there some inherent signal that triggers changes with age, and if so, what purpose does it serve? By studying immunosenescence, Robinson hopes to relate early changes in the immune system to changes in molecular systems and the development of Alzheimer's and other age-related diseases. By replacing specific precursor atoms by their isotope, monitoring reactions, and tracking the passage of an isotope within the body, Robinson identifies proteins that have been modified.

Public science and mentorship In addition to her dedication to improving human health through scientific research, Robinson also focuses on providing professional and scientific development activities for undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researches as well as engaging in community outreach activities for K through 12 students. Robinson was the Associate Director of Outreach, Recruitment and Education at the University of Pittsburgh, Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and has continued to provide mentorship within and outside her academic lab at Vanderbilt. As a Vanderbilt Global Voices Fellow, Robinson continues to build public awareness for her body of work related to racial and ethnic disparities in Alzheimer's disease as well as risk factors impacting the disproportionate effect of COVID-19 in communities of color in the USA.

Select publications

2023 Power List - Mentors and Educators, Analytical Scientist 2019, Vanderbilt Global Voices Fellowship (formerly the Chancellor's Public Voices Fellowship), from Vanderbilt University 2017, Pittsburgh Conference Achievement Award, from Pittcon and the Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh (SACP). 2016, Women Of Excellence Award, New Pittsburgh Courier 2016, Talented Twelve Award, from Chemical and Engineering News 2016, Young Investigator, from Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry