Dr. Jaclyn Cañas-Carrell is a Professor in the Department of Environmental Toxicology and the current Department Chairperson. She earned a Ph.D. in Environmental Toxicology from Texas Tech University in 2005. Her current research is on fate and toxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics 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 50 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 aimed to provide community college students with 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 from 2008 to 2025. She was a recipient of a 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 served as Department Chairperson since fall 2021.