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Dr. Micaela Vargas

  • Assoc Professor of Instruction - Biology
Portrait of Dr. Micaela Vargas

Biography and education

Dr. Micaela Vargas is an Associate Professor of Instruction in the Department of Biology at Texas State University. Her teaching and research interests span cancer biology, genomics, health informatics, and genetics. Dr. Vargas integrates her research background into her teaching, creating engaging, evidence-based learning experiences that connect molecular mechanisms to real-world biomedical applications. She is deeply committed to mentoring students and fostering inclusive pathways into research, emphasizing data-driven inquiry and translational relevance in the biological sciences. Her work bridges classroom instruction and applied bioinformatics, preparing students to engage critically with modern challenges in health and disease.
Education
Ph.D., Cell and Molecular Biology
M.S., Biology
B.S., Biology, Minor Chemistry

Teaching Interests

Research Interests

  • Hodge, Jonathan, Bryant, Barrett Richard, Fletcher, Steven, Golato, Andrea, Guirguis, Mina S (Supporting), Betancourt, Tania, Morrish, Douglas G, Vargas, Micaela, Ojeda-Ruiz, Ivan. SEU to TXST: STEM Graduate Pathways, Sloan Foundation, Private / Foundation / Corporate, $75000. (Submitted: 2024, Funded: January 2025 - December 2025). Grant.
  • Resendiz, Maria D, Umali, Lois A (Co-Principal), Vargas, Micaela (Co-Principal), Valles Molina, Damian (Co-Principal). NSF I-Corps, NSF, Federal, $50000. (Submitted: June 2022, Funded: September 1, 2022 - May 31, 2024). Grant.
  • Tsang, K. M., Hyun, J. S., Cheng, K. T., Vargas, M., Mehta, D., Ushio-Fukai, M., … Malik, A. B. (2017). Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation to Functional Arterial Endothelial Cells through Sequential Activation of ETV2 and NOTCH1 Signaling by HIF1α. Stem Cell Reports, 9(3), 796–806. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.07.001
  • Vargas, M., Karamsetty, R., Leppla, S. H., & Chaudry, G. J. (2012). Broad Expression Analysis of Human ANTXR1/TEM8 Transcripts Reveals Differential Expression and Novel Splizce Variants. PLOS ONE, 7(8), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0043174
  • MacDougall, C. A., Vargas, M., Soares, C. R., Holzer, R. G., Ide, A. E., & Jorcyk, C. L. (2005). Involvement of HGF/SF-Met signaling in prostate adenocarcinoma cells: Evidence for alternative mechanisms leading to a metastatic phenotype in Pr-14c. The Prostate, 64(2), 139–148. https://doi.org/10.1002/pros.20226
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Hays CISD High Five Award, Hays CISD. 2025 - Present
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Team Manager of the Year, Destination Imagination Capital Region Board. 2024 - 2025
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Mariel M. Muir Excellence in Mentoring Award, Texas State University. August 2023 - May 2024
  • Award / Honor Recipient: VIP's 2024 Volunteer of the Year, Hays CISD. April 2024
  • Award / Honor Recipient: College Achievement Excellence in Service, College of Science and Engineering. 2022 - 2023
View all awards
  1. Member

    60th Anniversary COSE Planning Committee

  2. Member

    Destination Imagination Scholarship Review Committee

  3. Member

    SEU to TXST: STEM Graduate Pathways Planning Committee

  4. Member

    COSE Graduate Student Recruitment Committee

  5. Member

    CREST Center for Bioinformatics

  6. Member

    Eben-Elledge Scholarship Committee

  7. View all activities