Illya Medina Velo, PhD

Education

• PhD, Chemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso
• MEd, Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey
• BSc, Chemical Engineering, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua

Courses Taught

• CHEM 1404 Introductory Chemistry
• CHEM 1004 Introductory Chemistry Laboratory
• CHEM 2415 General Chemistry I
• CHEM 2015 General Chemistry I Laboratory
• CHEM 2423 Quantitative Analysis
• CHEM 2023 Quantitative Analysis Laboratory
• CHEM 3443 Modern Analytical Techniques
• CHEM 3043 Modern Analytical Techniques Laboratory
• CHEM 3351 Inorganic Chemistry
• CHEM 4191 Senior Research Project

Teaching Focus

• Analytical chemistry
• Environmental chemistry

Research Interests and Publications

Research Interests

Potential application of nanomaterials for enhanced agricultural practices

Peer-reviewed research articles

• Tamez, C., Molina-Hernandez, M., Medina-Velo, I. A., Hernandez-Viezcas, J.A., and Gardea-Torresdey, J.L. (2020) Long-term assessment of nano-copper exposure in sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum): Uptake, transport, and effects. Science of the Total Environment. 720: 137318 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137318
• Ye, Y., Cota-Ruiz K., Hernandez-Viezcas, J.A., Valdes, C., Medina-Velo, I. A., Turley, R.S., Peralta-Videa, J.R., and Gardea-Torresdey, J.L. (2020) Manganese nanoparticles control salinity-modulated molecular responses in Capsicum annuum L. through priming: A sustainable approach for agriculture. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. DOI: doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.9b05615
• Medina-Velo, I. A., Zuverza-Mena, N., Tamez, C., Ye, Y., Hernandez-Viezcas, J.A., White, J.C., Peralta-Videa, J.R., and Gardea-Torresdey, J.L. (2018) Minimal transgenerational effect of ZnO nanomaterials on the physiology and nutrient profile of Phaseolus vulgaris. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 6:7924-7930. DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b01188
• Apodaca, S.A., Medina-Velo, I. A., Lazarski, A.C. Flores-Margez, J.P., Peralta-Videa, J.R., and Gardea-Torresdey, J.L. (2018) Different forms of copper and kinetin impacted element accumulation and macromolecule contents in kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) seeds. Science of the Total Environment, 636:1534-1540. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.360
• Ochoa, L., Zuverza-Mena, N., Medina-Velo, I. A., Florez-Margez, J.P., Peralta-Videa, J.R., and Gardea-Torresdey, J.L. (2018) Copper oxide nanoparticles, combined with indole-3-acetic acid, increase iron but reduce boron in green pea (Pisum sativum) seeds. Science of the Total Environment, 634: 1238-1245. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.003
• Medina-Velo, I. A., Dominguez, O., Ochoa, L., Barrios, A.C., Hernandez-Viezcas, J.A., White, J.C., Peralta-Videa, J.R., and Gardea-Torresdey, J.L. (2017) Nutritional quality of bean seeds harvested from plants grown in different soils amended with coated and uncoated zinc oxide nanomaterials. Environmental Science: Nano 4:2336-2347. DOI: 10.1039/C7EN00495H
• Ochoa, L., Medina-Velo, I. A., Barrios, A.C., Bonilla-Bird, N.J., Peralta-Videa, J.R., and Gardea-Torresdey, J.L. (2017) Modulation of CuO nanoparticles toxicity to green pea (Pisum sativum Fabaceae) by the phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid. Science of the Total Environment, 598: 513-524. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.04.063
• Medina-Velo, I. A., Barrios, A. C. Zuverza-Mena, N., Hernandez-Viezcas, J. A., Chang, C. H., Ji, Z., Zink, J. I., Peralta-Videa, J. , and Gardea-Torresdey, J. L. (2017) Comparison of the effects of commercial coated and uncoated ZnO nanomaterials and Zn compounds in kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) plants. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 332: 214–222. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2017.03.008
• Barrios, A. C., Medina-Velo, I. A., Zuverza-Mena, N., Dominguez, O. E., Peralta-Videa, J. R., and Gardea-Torresdey, J. L. (2017) Nutritional quality assessment of tomato fruits after exposure to uncoated and citric acid coated cerium oxide nanoparticles, bulk cerium oxide, cerium acetate and citric acid. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 110:100-107. DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2016.04.017
• Barrios, A. C., Rico, C. M., Trujillo-Reyes, J., Medina-Velo. A., Peralta-Videa, J. R., and Gardea-Torresdey, J. L. (2016) Effects of uncoated and citric acid coated cerium oxide nanoparticles, bulk cerium oxide, cerium acetate, and citric acid on tomato plants. Science of The Total Environment, 563-564:956-964. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.11.143
• Zuverza-Mena, N., Medina-Velo, I. A., Barrios, A. C., Tan, W., Peralta-Videa, J. R., and Gardea-Torresdey, J. L. (2015) Copper nanoparticles/compounds impact agronomic and physiological parameters in cilantro (Coriandrum sativum). Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, 17:1783–1793. DOI: 1039/C5EM00329F

Book chapters and review articles

• Wang, Y., Deng, C., Peralta-Videa, J., Rawat, S., Tan, W., Cota-Ruiz, K., Medina Velo, I., and Gardea-Torresdey, J. (under review). A critical review on the nanoparticles and rice (Oryza sativa) plants interactions: Can nanotechnology improve agricultural production? Chemosphere
• Ye, Y., Medina-Velo, I., A., Cota-Ruiz, K., Moreno-Olivas, F., and Gardea-Torresdey, J.L. (2019) Can abiotic stresses in plants be alleviated by manganese nanoparticles or compounds? Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 184: 109671.DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.109671
• Pullagurala, V. L. R., Adisa, I. O., Rawat, S., Kim, B., Barrios A. C., Medina-Velo, I. A., Hernandez-Viezcas, J. A., Peralta-Videa J. R., Gardea-Torresdey, J. L. (2018) Finding the conditions for the beneficial use of ZnO nanoparticles towards plants-A review. Environmental Pollution, 241:1175-1184. DOI: 1016/j.envpol.2018.06.036
• Medina-Velo, I. A., Adisa, I., Tamez, C., Peralta-Videa, J.R., and Gardea-Torresdey, J.L. (2017) Effects of surface coating on the bioactivity of engineered nanoparticles: Lessons learned from higher plants. In: Yan, B., Zhou, H., Gardea-Torresdey, J.L. (Eds.) Bioactivity of Engineered Nanoparticles, Chapter 3, pages 43-61. Springer, Singapore ISBN 978-981-10-5864-6
• Medina-Velo, I., Peralta-Videa, J. and Gardea-Torresdey, J. (2017) Assessing plant uptake and transport mechanisms of engineered nanomaterials from soil. MRS Bulletin 42, 5: 379-384. DOI: 1557/mrs.2017.87
• Medina-Velo, I. A., Zuverza-Mena, N., Tan, W., Hernandez-Viezcas, J.A., Peralta-Videa, J.R., and Gardea-Torresdey, J. L. (2016) Biophysical methods of detection and quantification of uptake, translocation and accumulation of nanoparticles. In C. Kole, S. Sakhtikumar, and M. Khodakovskaya (Eds.) Plant Nanotechnology: Principles and Practices, chapter 3, pages 29–63. Springer-Verlag GmbH DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-42154-4_3

Awards and Honors

• 2020– “Building an Education and Research Program in Nano-enabled agriculture at a rural Non-Land-Grant College” $142,110 for 36 months awarded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ United States Department of Agriculture as part of the Capacity Building Grants for Non-Land-Grant Colleges of Agriculture Program |Role: Co-PI and Program Manager
• 2020– Excellence in Research Award, Western New Mexico University
• 2018– Member of the National System of Investigators, category I, Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia, MX.
• 2017– Travel Award, First Pan American Congress of Nanotechnology.
• 2016– Student Travel Award, Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization (SNO).
• 2016– Student Travel Award, Student Government Association, UTEP.
• 2016– Graduate School Travel Award, University of Texas at El Paso.
• 2014– Graduate Studies Fellowship, CONACYT, MX
• 2007– Premio Estatal de la Juventud for Outstanding Academic Performance, Government of Chihuahua, MX.

Previous Academic/Professional Positions

• 08/2018– 12/2020, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Western New Mexico University – Silver City, NM
• 01/2014– 05/2018, Assistant Instructor, The University of Texas at El Paso – El Paso, TX
• Research Assistant, University of California-Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology – El Paso, TX
• 01/2009– 12/2013, High School Teacher, Colegio de Bachilleres del Estado de Chihuahua – Chihuahua, MX
• 08/2012–12/2013, Lecturer, Veterinaria Educación Profesional – Chihuahua, MX
• 08/2006– 11/2008, Lecturer, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua – Chihuahua, MX

Additional information

Professional memberships

• 2018-Present– Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Honor Society
• 2016-Present– American Chemical Society
• 2016-Present– Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization

Service to the Scientific Community

• 2016 – Present, Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization, Volunteer and invited contributor
• 2017 – Present, Scientific Journals, Invited reviewer

Personal and family information

• Medina enjoys making crafts and spending time with her dog, Loki.
• Dr. Medina has been part of the Catholic church since her childhood where she has had positions as a teen leader, retreat coordinator, lector, communion minister, and social media manager.