Dr. Graciela A. Unguez is a Regents Professor in the Department of Biology at New Mexico State University. Her primary research interests include neuromuscular physiology and developmental neurobiology.

Dr. Unguez joined the Partnership for the Advancement of Cancer Research (PACR) team in 2002 as project investigator in one of our first pilot projects. She rejoined the team in 2017 to begin the transition of serving as the lead program director at NMSU where she assists in leading the Administrative, REACH, and Planning and Evaluation Cores.

Outside of her work with PACR, Dr. Unguez serves as faculty with the Maximizing Access to Research Careers Program (MARC), where she uses weakly electric fish species to study the role that electrical activity patterns play in the differentiation and plasticity of distinct components in electromotor neuronal circuits in vertebrates. Additionally, Dr. Unguez serves as lead coordinator and mentor for regional and national programs supporting the research training and professional development of individuals at all carrier stages belonging to underrepresented groups in STEM.

Dr. Unguez earned her Ph.D. in animal physiology from the University of California, Los Angeles.