The RENEW Institute - A Multidisciplinary Initiative
Research Laboratories Director: Judith Cristobal
Dr. Judith R. Cristobal earned a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry with extensive postdoctoral research in biochemistry, enzymology, and bioanalytical chemistry. Her work focuses on mechanistic enzymology—specifically decarboxylation and hydride-transfer reactions—to understand molecular interactions that enhance enzyme activity; antibiotic resistance in the environment; toxicological and transporter-mediated uptake of PFAS; and targeted analysis of environmental contaminants using advanced analytical chemistry techniques.
Email: judithcr@buffalo.edu
Currently the Research Laboratories Director at UB RENEW, Dr. Cristobal leads user training sessions, oversees safety compliance, provides oversight of RENEW’s shared instrumentation and laboratory facilities, manages interdisciplinary research projects, mentors graduate and undergraduate students, prepares data for reporting, onboards visiting researchers, oversees daily lab operations, supports research proposal development, and reviews and guides students’ research papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
Dr. Cristobal leads critical projects investigating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in agrosystems and municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), as well as examining the neurotoxic effects of emerging contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).