Dr. Jaclyn Cañas-Carrell is a Professor in the Department of Environmental Toxicology and an Associate Director of the STEM-CORE. She earned a Ph.D. in Environmental Toxicology from Texas Tech University in 2005. Her current research, funded by NSF, is focused in the area of nanotoxicology, with an emphasis on fate and toxicity of carbon nanotubes in both terrestrial and aquatic systems. She is also interested in using analytical techniques to quantify exposure in the environment to both humans and organisms. She has published 35 referred articles and three book chapters.

She has been involved in STEM Education and Research since 2008 when the NIH funded the Plains Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program. The PBB Program aims to provide community college students the opportunity to engage in undergraduate research at TTU and explore various careers in the biomedical and behavioral sciences. She has served as the Program Director since its inception and successfully secured renewed funding in 2013. She has obtained over $5 million in external funding related to STEM. She is most interested in programs that support and promote students from underrepresented groups and first-generation students. She was the 2008 and 2013 recipient of the President's Excellence in Diversity and Equity Award and 2013 Chancellor's Council Distinguished Research Award. She was named an Integrated Scholar by the TTU Provost's Office for her integration of teaching, research, and service and has been a Faculty Fellow for STEM Education in the TLPDC at TTU. She has recently been named the Interim Vice Provost for Curriculum.