Dr. Chicas is a nurse scientist, and advocate for workers’ rights, who has dedicated her career to improving the living and working condition of farmworker communities.  Her leadership, teaching, prolific writing, and research have helped to cultivate national awareness of environmental and occupational health threats.  

Dr. Chicas currently serves as an Assistant Professor at Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing.  In this role, she is leading the field-based testing of a wearable biopatch for outdoor workers to gather physiological data, such as skin temperature, respiratory rate, and heart rate, which will eventually help AI predict when a person is at risk for heat-related illnesses.  Dr. Chicas conducted the first field-based intervention study of methods to reduce core body temperature using real-time biomonitoring among farmworkers in the United States.  

As the daughter of immigrants and someone who grew up in an outdoor working community, Dr. Chicas’ research is informed by lived experience.  Her work is continually informed by insights from farmworker communities as well; likewise, she seeks to continually share research findings and solutions with communities.  Dr. Chicas has disseminated her findings through various publications, research abstracts and proceedings, invited presentations, and media features, including José Díaz-Balart Reports (MSNBC), the Washington Post, and NPR.  Dr. Chicas earned an ASN from Georgia Perimeter College, a BSN from Emory University, and a PhD from Emory University Laney Graduate School.  Dr. Chicas is the BSN Honors Director.

Chicas, R. C., Elon, L., Xiuhtecutli, N., Liang, D., Houser, M. C., Mwarumba, T., Berra, L., Hertzberg, V., Sands, J. M., & McCauley, L. (2024). Longitudinal Renal Function Degradation Among Florida Agricultural Workers. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003142. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000003142

Chicas, R. C., Wang, Y., Jennifer Weil, E., Elon, L., Xiuhtecutli, N., C Houser, M., Jones, D. P., M Sands, J., Hertzberg, V., McCauley, L., & Liang, D. (2023). The impact of heat exposures on biomarkers of AKI and plasma metabolome among agricultural and non-agricultural workers. Environment international, 180, 108206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2023.108206

Kim, Y. S., Kim, J., Chicas, R., Xiuhtecutli, N., Matthews, J., Zavanelli, N., Kwon, S., Lee, S. H., Hertzberg, V. S., & Yeo, W. H. (2022). Soft Wireless Bioelectronics Designed for Real-Time, Continuous Health Monitoring of Farmworkers. Advanced healthcare materials, e2200170. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202200170  PMID: 35306761

Chicas, R., Suarez, J., Elon, L., Xiuhtecutli, N., Houser, M., Berra, L., Sands, J. M., Hertzberg. V., & McCauley, L. (2022). Hydration Interventions Among Agricultural Workers: A Pilot Study. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000002531  PMID: 35260538

Chicas, R., Xiuhtecutli, N., Elon, L., Scammell, M. K., Steenland, K., Hertzberg, V., & McCauley, L. (2021). Cooling Interventions Among Agricultural Workers: A Pilot Study. Workplace health & safety, 69(7), 315–322. https://doi.org/10.1177/2165079920976524  PMCID: PMC8693251

Dr. Chicas serves as the BSN Honors Director and is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of nurse scientists. With extensive experience guiding students at the undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels, she is committed to fostering academic and professional growth in aspiring nurses.

Dr. Chicas conducts community-engaged research with the Farmworker Association of Florida to examines occupational/environmental health hazards and kidney dysfunction among agricultural workers. Her research draws together several disciplines and utilizes innovative methodologies to analyze the health effects of environmental heat exposure and design intervention studies to protect workers from climate change. Dr. Chicas is also examining the physiological mechanisms underlying acute kidney injury, with a specific focus on the role of glucose metabolism and heat exposure using metabolomics to pinpoint critical steps in how acute kidney injury begins and advances.

American Academy of Nursing (AAN) Fellowship at the National Academy of Medicine (NAM)

International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement (IARSLCE) Community Outcomes and Impact Award

Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities Health Disparities Research Institute Scholar fostering academic and professional growth in aspiring nurses.

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