Huston Tillotson University
Dr. Amanda Masino
Associate Professor of Biology
Huston-Tillotson University
Co-Director
The Dumpster Project
Amanda Masino, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology at Huston-Tillotson University, is a geneticist and environmental educator whose approach to education blends science with community action. She directs HT’s STEM Research Scholars Program and heads an NSF-funded project to infuse research training into HT’s Natural Science curriculum. Her research background includes work in cell biology, genetics, and developmental biology, while her current research investigates the genetic diversity of microbial populations. Amanda also serves as Co-Director of the Dumpster Project (dumpsterproject.org), an initiative that is transforming a used trash dumpster into a sustainable home as a K-16 education platform and engagement tool. She co-advises HT's environmental student group Green is the New Black with Karen Magid and Dominique Bowman, and co-founded the Building Green Justice Forum, an Austin conference series that highlights environmental justice issues. She also serves as faculty advisor for JAMP (the Joint Admissions Medical Program) and the HT chapter of MAPS (Minority Pre-Medical/Pre-Health Association).