Associate Professor Named American Society for Cell Biology Fellow
Verónica Segarra, associate professor and the Maryland E-Nnovation Endowed Chair in Biological Sciences and Chemistry, was named an American Society for Cell Biology Fellow.
Verónica Segarra, associate professor and the Maryland E-Nnovation Endowed Chair in Biological Sciences and Chemistry, was named an American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) Fellow, a prestigious honor recognizing exceptional contributions to cell biology and the society. Segarra was elected as one of 14 scientists from across the nation’s leading institutions for this academic year’s honor.
ASCB Fellows shape the field of cell biology through research, mentorship, and commitment to advancing science. Segarra centers her work on creating opportunities for her students and pursues longstanding and new research projects simultaneously in her lab. She challenges her students to be innovative and to try new things with their research.
“Being an American Society for Cell Biology Fellow has enriched my career through opportunities to help advance the inclusivity of the discipline toward a multiplicity of views and perspectives in the way we carry out our science,” said Segarra. “I am proud of the work we have done together and grateful to ASCB for their generosity in inviting me to become a fellow of their society.”
Segarra’s current research centers on determining if human versions of genes defective in the cellular process of cellular self-eating can be associated with neurodegenerative disease. She and Kate Haesemeyer Miller ’26 constructed a yeast system to investigate the topic for their research. Miller presented this work at the 2026 American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology annual meeting.
At Goucher, the Segarra lab is also studying how cells activate pathways, such as autophagy and protein transport, to survive and respond to various forms of stress. Undergraduate researchers drive projects in the lab and rely on budding yeast as model organisms.
“Membership in the ASCB has been a chance to collaborate with others who share the same scientific curiosity and who carry out the same kinds of experiments,” continued Segarra. “Being a member of a professional society is an experience I would recommend to all of my students.”
Segarra teaches a range of Goucher’s undergraduate biology and chemistry courses and supports the Summer LAUNCH Network programming. Her work also forefronts mentoring opportunities and supports inclusion and accessibility in STEM fields for students as well as through implementing innovative professional development programming for early-career scientists.