Biography and education
My research interests during the last ten years were largely driven by my fascination for the pheromones and endocrine systems of fish. I focus on how external chemical signals drive reproductive output, which eventually lead to a study on the activation of endocrine axis after a pheromone detection event. I have become proficient in electrophysiology, and investigation of the morphology and physiology of elements of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gland axis by protein biochemistry, histology and molecular procedures.
Research Interests
Featured grants
- Huertas Pau, Maria del Mar. A portal into the brain: olfactory crypt neurons modulate brain viral immunity in teleost, National Science Fundation, Federal, $625000. (Submitted: 2017, Funded: August 20, 2018 - October 19, 2021). Grant.
- Huertas Pau, Maria del Mar. Run to R1 postdoctoral program, TXST, Texas State University, $100000. (Funded: 2023 - 2025). Grant.
- Huertas Pau, Maria del Mar. EAGER: Environmental nitrite is a nitric oxide donor that modulates fish olfactory function, National Science Fundation, Federal, $295000. (Submitted: August 2022, Funded: January 2023 - January 2025). Grant.
- Huertas Pau, Maria del Mar. SEED: Exploring novel fish cultures for small and midscale aquaponics system, USDA, Federal, $268217. (Submitted: August 2022, Funded: January 2023 - January 2025). Grant.
- Huertas Pau, Maria del Mar. REP: Spatial imaging of the olfactory-immune axis in vertebrates, Texas State University, Texas State University, $8000. (Submitted: 2022, Funded: January 2023 - May 2024). Grant.
Featured scholarly/creative works
- Buchinger, T., Anne, S. M., Skye, F., Brant, C. O., Huertas Pau, M. del M., Li, K., … Li, W. (2020). A pheromone antagonist liberates female sea lamprey from a sensory trap to enable reliable communication. PNAS. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1921394117
- Sepahi, A., Kraus, A., Casadei, E., Johnston, C. A., Galindo-Villegas, J., Kelly, C., … Salinas, I. (2019). Olfactory sensory neurons mediate ultrarapid antiviral immune responses in a TrkA-dependent manner. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 201900083. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1900083116
- Li, K., Brant, C., Huertas Pau, M. del M., Hessler, E., Mezei, G., Scott, A. M., … Li, W. (2018). Fatty-acid derivative acts as a sea lamprey migratory pheromone. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1803169115
- Huertas Pau, M. del M., & Billah, M. M. (2023). Pathogen odors elicit distinct neurosteroid and behavioral responses in Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Physiology, 38(S1).
- Franklin, A., Restrepo, N., Carlos-Shanley, C., & Huertas Pau, M. del M. (2023). Bacteria and nitrite change smelling ability of catfish.
Featured awards
- Award / Honor Recipient: Excellence in Scholarly/Creative activities, Texas State University. 2022
- Award / Honor Recipient: STEM Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) (Mentor), Texas State University. June 2018 - January 2021
- Award / Honor Recipient: Teaching Award Honor, Texas State University. 2020
- Award / Honor Recipient: Best student poster award, European Aquaculture Society. 2002
Featured service activities
- Graduate Advisor
STEMINITAS
- Speaker
STEM sisters Speakers (NISD)
- Chair
JEDI (Committee of, Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the Biolog
- Volunteer
Sigths and Sounds
- University Mentor
U-Rise program
- Officer
SACNAS