Monica is clinical research fellow and spearheads the DHR Health Institute for Research and Development Biobank initiatives. Monica is a Rio Grande Valley native and obtained her Bachelors of Science from University of Texas Pan-American and her MD from the Universidad Valle de Bravo.

Melissa Eddy is the program manager for research education at the DHR Health Institute for Research and Development. She earned a Bachelor and Master of Science degree in Biology from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Melissa earned her master’s degree in Biology in 2000, with her thesis research focusing on the phenology of drought-adapted plant species, which led to publications in “Texas Journal of Science” and “The Southwestern Naturalist.”

Melissa taught Advanced Placement (AP) Biology for 30 years at McAllen Memorial High School, spending 15 of those years as an adjunct faculty member in the biology department at South Texas College. While at McAllen Memorial, Melissa managed AP instruction and curriculum as the AP Coordinator and served on numerous committees, often in a leadership capacity. Her peers awarded her the “Campus Teacher of the Year” and “District Secondary Teacher of the Year” awards in May 2017. Melissa was also employed as an independent consultant in AP Biology for several years, presenting to teachers in Abu Dhabi, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Kazakhstan, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Texas and South Carolina. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys exercising, gardening, reading, and volunteer work.