Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts, Boston, 2020
  • M.S., Bioengineering, Universitat Ramon Llull (IQS School of Engineering), 2016
  • B.S., Chemical Engineering, Universitat Ramon Llull (IQS School of Engineering), 2014
Professional Honors
  • Fellowships:
  • College of Science and Mathematics Dean’s Doctoral Research Fellowship 2019, 2020
  • Rafael del Pino Fellowship 2017 – 2019
  • BIOKIT fellowship 2014
  • Fellowship from Fundacion de Empresas IQS 2010
  • Awards:
  • Bollinger Grant from UMass Boston 2019
  • Beacon Student Success Fellowship from UMass Boston 2018
  • Herbert Lipke Memorial Endowment Travel Fund from UMass Boston 2018
  • Goranson Award from UMass Boston 2016, 2018
  • Internship Grant CRUE CEPYME award from Banco Santander 2013

Dr. Rodriguez-Quijada specializes in the assessment of materials used throughout the pharmaceutical and medical device fields. She supports clients in the design and development of diagnostic and therapeutic systems, by researching the interface between biology and materials.

Dr. Rodriguez-Quijada has expertise identifying and characterizing proteins, bacteria and viruses from diverse biological fluids and biomaterial surfaces with biochemical techniques.

Dr. Rodriguez-Quijada has a broad experience using conventional bioassays such as immunoassays (ELISA, Western blot, immunochromatographic assays), proteomic assays (LC-MS, SDS-PAGE), cell culture, flow cytometry and microbiology techniques. She routinely utilizes imaging techniques such as SEM, TEM, fluorescence microscopy and confocal imaging to assess the performance of theranostic systems. She is skilled in nanoparticle characterization techniques such as dynamic light scattering and zeta potential. In addition, she has considerable experience with a variety of spectroscopic techniques including UV-Vis, Raman and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) as well as material characterization techniques including Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), mechanical testing and rheometry.

Prior to joining exponent, she completed her Ph.D. work in Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Her dissertation focused on the study of the interactions between inorganic materials and biomolecules to enhance the performance and capabilities of biomaterials used as therapeutic or diagnostic tools. Dr. Rodriguez-Quijada has been awarded multiple fellowships and awards from private and public entities that supported her undergraduate and graduate work. She is an author on multiple peer-reviewed publications and has shared her research interests at several international and domestic conferences.