Legna Andreina Colina Vegas

Since 2019, I have been an Adjunct Professor at the Institute of Chemistry at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. My academic journey began at the University of Zulia, Venezuela, where I graduated in Chemistry in 2011. In 2013, I obtained my Master's degree in Inorganic Chemistry from the Federal University of São Carlos, where I also completed my Ph.D. in 2017, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Alzir Azevedo Batista.My research focuses on organometallic and coordination complexes, exploring their potential as cytotoxic, antiparasitic, and antifungal agents, both in vitro and in vivo studies. I investigate the mechanisms of action of these complexes on biological targets such as nucleic acids, proteins, and the heme group. Throughout this journey, I have developed significant skills in cell culture techniques, with valuable experiences in the LABEN (UFSCar) and LERC (Ghent Hospital) laboratories.Between 2017 and 2019, I conducted postdoctoral research in Analytical Chemistry, concentrating on the preparation of cell samples and the use of plasma spectrometric techniques (ICP-OES and ICP-MS) under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Joaquim de Araújo Nóbrega. During this period, I did a one-year internship at Ghent University in Belgium, working with Laser Ablation-ICPMS and tumor cells, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Frank Vanhaecke. Since 2024, I have been a Visiting Professor at the Guangdong Technion Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT) in China.Additionally, I had maternity leave periods between 2019-2020 and 2021-2022. (Source: Lattes Curriculum)